Viewers know Yoji Harada as the happy go lucky tattoo artist who catapulted to fame as Ami James' apprentice on TLC's reality series, Miami Ink.  By now, this reality TV star is already used to the glitz and glamour of showbiz since he has been under the spotlight since the show premiered in 2005.  On the other hand, coping up with fame hasn't always been easy for the Japanese native, who initially went to the United States as a tourist in 1995.

In an interview with Brightcove, Harada shares his previous fan encounters and what he did to be able to handle the pressures of being a celebrity.

Tagged as “the rookie,” Harada started out as the tattoo shop's apprentice.  Though the guys, including Ami James, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver and Darren Brass, often give him grief over the years, they love and protect him like a brother.  And though his training is far from over, he is now tattooing full time and mastering his skills so that he can hold his own as an artist.

During the first season of Miami Ink, which ran from July to September 2005, Harada got his first taste of fan encounter.  Although he enjoyed the fact that many people are starting recognize and admire him, he soon valued his restricted privacy and realized the difficulty of putting a lid to his new found celebrity status.

“I'm not like Brad Pitt or Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears or whatever… [But] sometimes when I'm with my family having dinner and stuff , someone comes up to us trying to take a picture.  I think that's rude…I'm like ‘after the diner, after the dinner' still I'm still trying to be nice to people because I really appreciate everything…But sometimes it's just like you can't take it.  I had to go see a shrink the first time after the first season but I'm OK now,” Harada revealed.

Aside from pursuing tattooing, Harada is also trying to make a name in the music circuit with his band called Big Deal.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Brightcove
(Image courtesy of TLC)