Different types of Japanese tattoos

What comes to mind when you think about Japanese tattoos?

Some people might think of traditional Japanese tattoos, which often feature bold colored designs done by hand using needles fastened to bamboo sticks, carving dragons, snakes, flowers, and many more. These are called Irezumi and irezumi-ya are tattoo artists specializing in this type of work. Caution, nowadays Irezumis are directly connected to the Japanese mafia and have a very controversial connotation attached to it. Others might think of more modern Japanese tattoos, which often feature softer colors and more delicate designs. These are called wabori and the tattoo artists who specialize in this type of work are called wabori-ya. This kind of tattoo was most popular and developed during the Edo period in Japan. In other cases of designed tattoos (or ink on your skin), you have the Ainu, Japanese indigenous people, who have their own unique tattoo-like practice fostered by culture.

(Image of an Irezumi tattoo)

Other than that, another type of tattoo that might come to mind is the modern-day Japanese tattoo, which is often a mix of Eastern and Western influences and can feature a wide range of designs, from kawaii to yakuza-inspired. love, courage, and so on. In this article, we will introduce you to the several types of tattoos that are available and hopefully, help you on your tattoo-finding journey.

Single-character tattoos:

Single-character tattoos are great for a one-point tattoo. It’s perfect for someone who wants a small but memorable piece. I remember when I was watching Naruto, I always wanted to have Gaara’s “愛 (love)” tattoo on my forehead. While it doesn’t need to be in a notable place, it can for sure give out a Japanese vibe. However, it is common for one-character kanji tattoos to value design more than meaning. As it is obvious, it’s difficult to have a full story in a single syllable; even in English, it’s quite challenging. That’s why next, you have a short word tattoo as an option.

(Image: Posted by studiomuscat)

Short word tattoos:

Despite a single character, you can choose to have a short word tattoo, too. For example, these can be 家族 (family) and 可能性 (possibly). These can provide a range of meanings and options to choose from. A notable tattoo failure example of choosing a single-character tattoo is when a person wants a tattoo that means family and has a “家” tattoo. It does mean family depending on the context, but usually, it means the physical house or clan. These are the times when you want to have a word tattoo; when what you want as a meaning cannot be expressed in a single word.

(Image: Posted by tattoomenow.com)

Four-character idioms:

Four-character idioms are a great choice when you want meaning and design! While it’s difficult to truly incorporate a story or meaning in a single word or a short word, this type compounds the meaning of the four characters. For instance, you have 一石二鳥 (killing two birds with one stone) and 以心伝心 (telepathic synchronization). This type typically has a meaning on its own, so it’s a perfect option for those who want a meaningful Japanese tattoo but doesn’t really have a good idea of what is on the market.

(Image: Posted by watsongregg97 )

Short proverbs (saying):

A longer version of the one above is Japanese proverbs. Same as every proverb, it contains teachings, knowledge, and stories in each and every one. Some examples are “塵も積もれば山となる (dust accumulates and become a mountain. Meaning that small things matter)” and “善は急げ (do good in a hurry. Meaning that good things aren’t supposed to be done with hesitation, but the opposite)“. These are unique because of their lessons that it tells how most proverbs are a combination of Kanji (Japanese that originated from Chinese characters) and Hiragana (Japanese alphabet). So, in that case, you get the best of both worlds in one tattoo.

(Image: Posted by Elizandra Félix)

Here I introduced you to some of the major types of Japanese tattoos/Kanji tattoos. I hope it helped you get a grasp of how to find your best option. If you need some recommendations from a Japanese person, use our service to get the perfect tattoo!