Japanese Tattoos 04:Soul Of Tattoo

Another thing to keep in mind is placement. For instance a hikae, or chest panel tattoo, is a classic placement. This tattoo starts at the chest and blends out into the shoulder, and often down the arm. A nagasode tattoo is considered a “sleeve” piece and starts under the shoulder and down to the wrist, while a shichibu is 7/10ths of the sleeve and gobu is 5/10ths.
Despite the fact that tattooing is still considered rather on the taboo side in Japan, those who seek out either rebellion or a sense of beauty will find themselves drawn to the mystical, unique and splendid style of Japanese tattoos. This style will continue to have a draw for its variety and its colorful nature.

Japanese Tattoos 04:Soul Of Tattoo

Many people take Japanese tattoos further than just covering large portions of their body. Instead, they opt to cover almost their entire body, from neck to mid-thigh. These are often seen with a multicolored pictorial tattoo of the Suikoden, which was, and still is a massively popular set of four novels in Chinese literature. It was originally translated in Japan in 1757 and woodcuts were created for these stories in 1827. Since then, many people enjoy these rich and colorful tattoos that tell classic and unmistakable stories.

Japanese Tattoos, Designs, Pictures

With the variety and skills of tattoo artists, one has to wonder why Japanese tattoos are still so popular today. But the truth is, it is not all that surprising. With the colorful history and vast array of designs, Japanese tattoos are not only aesthetically pleasing, but can carry a good deal of meaning.

Japanese Tattoos


Japanese Tattoos

Japanese Tattoos

With the variety and skills of tattoo artists, one has to wonder why Japanese tattoos are still so popular today. But the truth is, it is not all that surprising. With the colorful history and vast array of designs, Japanese tattoos are not only aesthetically pleasing, but can carry a good deal of meaning.

The remarkable history and style of the Japanese culture has always mystified the Western world. Signs of this are seen most commonly in tattoos. One of the most popular of these is the Kanji tattoo. Kanji is a calligraphy style writing used by the Japanese. The beauty of this particular style of tattoo is both its simplicity and its diversity. You can convey practically any message you wish with the simple and stylish characters.

Other popular styles of Japanese tattoos are steeped in real life or fantasy. From dragons to koi fish, qilin — which are said to be a good omen, bringing serenity and prosperity — to romantic flora like cherry blossoms and lotuses.

The beauty of Japanese tattoos is that you can go well beyond symbols or small, meaningful signs, and create masterful pieces that can cover large areas of your body. For instance, many images can portray beautiful outdoor scenes with large billowy clouds, wind or even fantastic, old fashioned scenes of a wavy ocean. These are often taken from the ukiyo-e or “pictures of the floating world”, which is a genre of Japanese woodcuts. These remarkable scenes can be mixed with many figures from either an outdoor scene, such as flowers or animals; folkloric characters, or something more meaningful to you personally.

Another thing to keep in mind is placement. For instance a hikae, or chest panel tattoo, is a classic placement. This tattoo starts at the chest and blends out into the shoulder, and often down the arm. A nagasode tattoo is considered a “sleeve” piece and starts under the shoulder and down to the wrist, while a shichibu is 7/10ths of the sleeve and gobu is 5/10ths.

Many people take Japanese tattoos further than just covering large portions of their body. Instead, they opt to cover almost their entire body, from neck to mid-thigh. These are often seen with a multicolored pictorial tattoo of the Suikoden, which was, and still is a massively popular set of four novels in Chinese literature. It was originally translated in Japan in 1757 and woodcuts were created for these stories in 1827. Since then, many people enjoy these rich and colorful tattoos that tell classic and unmistakable stories.

Despite the fact that tattooing is still considered rather on the taboo side in Japan, those who seek out either rebellion or a sense of beauty will find themselves drawn to the mystical, unique and splendid style of Japanese tattoos. This style will continue to have a draw for its variety and its colorful

Right Arm with Character Japanese Tattoos

Right Arm with Character Japanese Tattoos

Japanese Tattoos and Their Meanings

Japanese Tattoos and Their Meanings

Japanese tattoos have always piqued the interest of tattoo lovers. Japanese tattoos have a sense of mystique and intricacy and hence, today, have become very popular. Read on for more information on Japanese tattoos and their meanings.Japanese tattoo art has gained tremendous popularity all over the world. Unlike earlier, when Japanese tattoo art was only associated with the Yakuza, today they are associated with culture and are considered a distinctive version of tattoo art. Japanese tattoos always have something for everyone, whether you want a fierce dragon, a delicate cherry blossom, a beautiful koi fish swimming across your back, or the intricate scene of samurai warriors locked in mortal combat. Besides the variety in tattoo designs, the main beauty lies in the Japanese tattoos and their meanings.

History of Japanese Tattoos

The Japanese tattoos have a long and rich history. The first evidence of Japanese tattoos can be seen on 5000 year old figurines recovered from tombs. Also, texts from the 3rd century A.D. speak of Japanese men decorating their faces and bodies with tattoos. Centuries later, mainly due to the powerful cultural influence of China, tattooing became a taboo, and was largely reserved for outcasts and criminals. The integral part of traditional Japanese tattoo was an elaborate system of symbols that were used to tell a story through the use of specific images that were meant to reveal the character of the individual. Read more on tattoo history.

Japanese Tattoos and Their Meanings

An integral part of the allure of traditional Japanese tattoos lie in the capacity of the designs to evolve over time, from smaller separate individual tattoos, to brilliant motifs that can embrace the entire arm as a sleeve. Each Japanese tattoo has a different meaning. The following are a few Japanese tattoos and their meanings:

Cherry Blossoms: One of the most popular designs for women, the cherry blossoms are used to represent life itself. They are also called Sakura. The beauty of the cherry blossom lies in the strength it has to survive in the harsh conditions that they bloom in, along with their fragile nature, as they only last a couple of days. The Japanese view this as a direct representation of how life should be. They believe that everyday should be lived to the fullest and that the awareness of death should only make us want to seize each moment in our life. This is one of the Japanese tattoo meanings which clearly signifies power and beauty. However, one should remember to take adequate tattoo care after getting a cherry blossom tattoo.

Koi Fish Tattoos: Koi fish tattoos are perhaps the second most favored symbols in Japanese tattoos. Generally, koi fish are bright colored fish that have special symbolism in Japanese culture and you can even find them in front of most temples. The myth states that the koi fish swim upstream to a bridge or gate of heaven where they were transformed into dragons. This design symbolizes luck, strength, power, ambition and individuality. So if you are looking for a tattoo that symbolizes the struggle faced by humans in life, the perfect choice is a koi fish tattoo. Read more on:

• Koi Fish Tattoos and Their Meanings
• Koi Fish Tattoos for Women

Dragons: The mythical dragon is something we all associate Japan with! The dragons hold a very important place in Japanese tattoos and their meanings. The dragon tattoo is associated with many meanings, from freedom, courage, wisdom, power, strength to even supernatural powers. When it comes to choosing a dragon tattoo, let your imagination fly, as there is no concern of making it look realistic. And each color dragon has a different symbolization, so choose the color carefully. Read more on tribal dragon tattoos.

Hanya Masks: Hanya masks is one of the most traditional Japanese tattoos. The meanings of Japanese tattoos often originate from kabuki plays, just like this tattoo. Hanya masks are demonic masks which come from the famous kabuki plays in Japan, and it depicts a woman who has been consumed with rage over her lover. These tattoos are believed to ward off evil spirits, and bring good luck to the person sporting them.

Read more on:

• Flower Tattoos and Their Meanings
• Nautical Star Tattoos Meanings

These were some of the most popular Japanese tattoos and their meanings. There are infinite designs and meanings of Japanese tattoos. If you are a tattoo lover, then you are bound to be enticed by them all! When getting a Japanese tattoo, it is extremely crucial to know and understand the Japanese tattoo meanings, but all said and done, no matter which design you select they are bound to stand out!