I am often asked about the difference between machine and tebori (hand poke) tattooing. I experienced quite a bit of both, because in the years that he tattooed me, Horiyoshi III transitioned from tebori to machine.
As for how it feels, the location matters much, much more than the method. The main sensory difference is the sound and cadence of tebori. In this video of Horiyoshi III doing tebori, I can almost feel it myself.
Horiyoshi explained that it is the result attained after about four years that makes the biggest difference. He said that a machine works best for outlining because its precise, thin line does not spread out over the years, while tebori does spread out into soft, smooth gradients ideal for shading. He had an almost poetic way of stating it in Japanese that went something like, "The disadvantage of one method is an advantage in one application, and the disadvantage of the other method is an advantage in the other application."
Horiyoshi then commented, "You like tebori better, don't you, John-san." This man can see right through me. I guess I do like tebori, not because it feels any better, but because it's a rarer and more authentic experience that yields a superior result. Both methods involve needles, and getting stuck with needles hurts.
For the past few years Horiyoshi has used a machine exclusively. When I asked about this, he said that as one ages, it becomes difficult to perceive fast-moving objects. He dramatized by waving his hand past his face, then making a mystified expression as if he had missed something.
As you can see in the video, your skin moves around quite a bit during tebori, but with a machine, it stays relatively stationary. So, no more tebori.
