1.
tattoo artist
A person who creates tattoos, especially traditional Japanese tattoos (和彫り). In Japan, tattooing has a long artistic tradition, and skilled tattoo artists are considered craftspeople.
有名な彫り師に彫ってもらった。
I had it done by a famous tattoo artist.
この彫り師は和彫りの技術で高い評価を受けている。
This tattoo artist is highly regarded for his traditional Japanese tattooing technique.
彫り師になるには何年もの修行が必要だ。
It takes many years of training to become a tattoo artist.
2.
engraver; carver
A person who carves or engraves designs into wood, metal, or other materials. This older sense covers seal engravers and woodblock carvers.
版画の彫り師が木版に細かい模様を刻んでいる。
A woodblock engraver is carving a fine pattern into the woodblock.
江戸時代には浮世絵の彫り師が重要な役割を果たしていた。
In the Edo period, woodblock engravers played an important role in ukiyo-e production.
印鑑の彫り師は一つ一つ手彫りで仕上げる。
A seal engraver finishes each one by hand carving.
USAGE:
In modern usage, the most common meaning is tattoo artist (sense 1). The word combines 彫り (carving) + 師 (master, professional). Traditional Japanese tattoo artists often take professional names (号) beginning with 彫, such as 彫○○.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 彫り師に彫ってもらう (to have a tattoo done by a tattoo artist)
- 和彫りの彫り師 (traditional Japanese tattoo artist)
- 腕のいい彫り師 (a skilled tattoo artist)
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japan, tattoos are associated with yakuza and are still restricted at many public baths and pools. However, traditional Japanese tattooing (和彫り / 刺青) is recognized as an art form with a history spanning centuries.