Utabori

Utabori II (二代目歌彫, Nidaime Utabori), known simply as Utabori (歌彫), is a recurring character in the Yakuza series. He is a tattoo artist based in Kamurocho.

Profile

Appearance

Utabori is an elderly man with thinning grey hair and a beard.

Attire

He is always seen in his blue tattooist's robe.

Personality

My ink has the power to alter a man's fate. I hope this won't be too heavy a burden.

— Utabori to Rikiya, Yakuza 3

Utabori has a deep understanding of the meaning of the tattoos he inks and the effects they have on the people who wear them.

Background

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Utabori inked Kazuma Kiryu's and Akira Nishikiyama's yakuza full-back-piece tattoos.

Involvement

Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami: 1995-2005

When Yumi Sawamura regained her memory of Kiryu during his incarceration, she commissioned Utabori to ink a Queen of the Night flower in the hopes that she would see him again, even if only for a night.

Kiryu visits Utabori at his shop after his ten year imprisonment. He shows Utabori a picture of the victim who is assumed to be "Mizuki" with a "queen of the night" tattoo on her upper left side of her torso believing the tattoo is designed by him. Utabori then gets a phone call from Nishiki, who requests Utabori have him speak with Kiryu to meet with him that night at Serena. Utabori later repairs Kiryu's worn out dragon tattoo.

Yakuza 3: 2009

Main article: Dotting the Eye

Utabori fills in the eye of Rikiya's habu pit viper tattoo.

Trivia

In Ryu Ga Gotoku Online, it is stated that Utabori was the one who inked Ichiban Kasuga's tattoo, however, his signature is not present.