For the Besançon International Tattoo Show 2026, I made 21 handmade trophy-masks. Seven competition categories, three prizes each, and two months to produce them all: PETG 3D printing, sanding, painting, varnishing, wooden frames and engraved plaques. It was the first time Dai Yokai made trophies for a convention, and by far the biggest order the workshop has handled. Here's how it came about and how it went.
How it came about
It all started from a half-serious offer. Talking with Jean-Marc Bassand, founder of the BITS and of the Lille Tattoo Convention, I mentioned he could think of me if he ever needed trophies. In my head, I was aiming for the next edition, a year out. He replied that he was actually short of trophies for the Besançon edition, and that he'd come back to me the following week. In the end, it wasn't a handful of masks, but 21.
The Besançon International Tattoo Show is one of the biggest tattoo conventions in France. Its 13th edition drew over 270 international tattooers and around 10,000 visitors to Micropolis on 21 and 22 March 2026. That edition's poster paid tribute to Japanese irezumi, which made the collaboration all the more fitting.
Why masks rather than cups
Conventions usually use classic trophies: cups, plaques, statuettes. I wanted to avoid the generic-cup effect. The link between Japanese masks and irezumi tattooing is natural: Hannya, Kitsune, Oni and dragons are central motifs of traditional Japanese tattoo. Each trophy had to stay a real Dai Yokai piece, hand-painted, directly tied to the visual world of the tattooers present, not a throwaway object filed in a cupboard after the event.
The 7 categories and their masks
I matched each model to the spirit of its category.
| Category | Mask | |----------|------| | Best of Japanese Culture | Traditional Kitsune | | Best of Traditional Japanese | Traditional Hannya | | Best of Ethnic | Hannya Kezurata (textured, kintsugi-inspired) | | Best of Realism | Dragon (scales and complexity) | | Best of Blackwork | Hannya Wood (gold on a dark ground) | | Best of Ornamental | New Kitsune | | Best of Neo-Traditional | Oni |
The choice wasn't random: the traditional Kitsune for the culture category, one of folklore's most recognisable masks; the Dragon for realism, whose scales reward technical precision; the Hannya Wood for blackwork, its gold-on-dark contrast echoing that style.
Making 21 trophies in two months
Each mask follows the workshop's usual process, but multiplied by 21. PETG printing takes 6 to 26 hours depending on the model, sanding is done by hand grit by grit, acrylic paint goes on in several coats with drying time between each, and a final varnish protects the piece. The real difficulty of a batch is managing the flow: while three masks dry, two are printing and four are being sanded. The workshop, and my living room, looked like a small production line for two months. With no time to make the supports, I bought wooden frames sanded and painted matte black, and laser-engraved each brass plaque (xTool engraver) with the category, the placing and the event name.
What it changed for Dai Yokai
Before the ceremony, I felt real pressure: imposing a style on award-winning tattooers is no small thing. I got to meet each winner, and the response was unanimous. Several told me they'd hang the mask in their studio, which is exactly the idea of a trophy that lives on after the event. Beyond the satisfaction, this order transformed how the workshop runs: going from single pieces to a batch forced me to systematise the flow, anticipate drying times and manage stock differently. And it opened a new path: the bespoke trophy-mask for professional tattoo and Japanese-culture events. Thanks to Jean-Marc Bassand, Anna Grenouillet and the whole BITS team for the trust, and to Chanokaze for the support on this challenge.
Read the guide to yokai · See Japanese masks
FAQ
How many trophies did Dai Yokai make for BITS 2026?
21 trophy-masks in total, across 7 competition categories with three places (1st, 2nd, 3rd) each, every place matching a different mask size.
Which mask models served as trophies?
Seven models: traditional Kitsune, Hannya, Hannya Kezurata, New Kitsune, Dragon, Nekomata and Hannya Wood, each matched to its competition category.
How long did production take?
Two full months, from order to delivery at Micropolis: PETG 3D printing, sanding, painting, varnishing, wooden frames and laser engraving of the plaques.
Can you order custom trophy-masks for an event?
Yes. Since this collaboration with the BITS, Dai Yokai creates bespoke trophy-masks for tattoo conventions, festivals and cultural events. Contact via daiyokai.com.