Japanese tattoos: the most tattooed symbols and their meaning

Japanese tattoos: a millenary art

In Japan, the tattoo is a thousand-year old legacy , probably derived from the ancient Polynesian tribes that colonized the islands in prehistoric times. For centuries it was used as corporal punishment, to painfully “brand” a criminal with the eternal sentence imprinted on his skin. From 1600 onwards, however, things began to change.

Going back in time, the first signs of tattoos in Japan date back to the prehistoric Jomon age, which can be placed between 10,000 and 300 BC where some artifacts found by Japanese archaeologists have brought out ancient clay figurines, which bear engravings very similar to possible tattoos.

During the domination of the Edo empire, the irezumi – propitiatory tattoo – took the place of the punitive tattoo. A scene, a sentence, a symbol for good luck and the protection of the gods were engraved on the skin. And this trend has come down to us almost intact. But, if we Westerners use it to express beauty, in Japan the modern meaning of the Japanese tattoo is linked again to the negative, and more precisely to the local mafia, which imprints on the skin a symbol of recognition of belonging to a clan. Also currently, tattoos are used a lot by Japanese criminals to express their arrogance.

So, if you get a Japanese tattoo, therefore, find out very well about the symbols and phrases to avoid imprinting some criminal code on your body that will prevent you from traveling to Japan or meeting Japanese tourists.

Japanese tattoo: how to do it

Unlike other oriental tattoos, such as Chinese or Polynesian ones, Japanese tattoos strictly follow the basic rules, which must never be broken.

These rules are also imposed on Western tattoo artists and consist of:

• tattoo by hand, without a machine , but gently hammering the needles into the skin;
• use thick needles tied to bamboo canes;
• use bright but basic colors , without shades or refined details;
• minimal shades can only be used for backgrounds which must always be dark;

Meaning Japanese tattoos: the most beautiful and popular symbols of the moment

What are the most tattooed Japanese symbols of all?

In the following lines we will see together which are the most popular tattoos and their symbolic meaning.

In general, the most beautiful and in demand Japanese tattoos, those that represent the main symbolisms of the irezumi tattoo , are mostly animal figures such as:

• Dragon,  one of the most recognized and tattooed subjects in the world. In Japan this mythological animal embodies quality as strength and wisdom of soul. The tattoo of a Japanese dragon indicates an aspiration to achieve moral qualities and spiritual balance. The tattooed dragon can be colored, feathered, or associated with the closed lotus flower, which represents the essence of the Universe;
• Koi carp,  one of the most tattooed and most loved Japanese symbols in the entire Japanese mythology. The Koi carp symbolizes courage and determination . Being a fish that swims in the water, it almost seems to symbolize the flow of life;
• Tiger,  a sacred animal in Japanese mythology, symbolizes courage and strength;
• Lion Dog,  also called Karashishi , is a symbol of good luck and a wish for wealth. In turn, it presents the variant of being drawn in pairs, consisting of a male and a female, the first with his mouth open to let out the evil, while the second with his mouth closed to keep it from entering;

Other trendy Japanese symbols

Other very popular Japanese symbols are:

• Cherry blossom,  symbolizing beauty and joy, but at the same time the fragility of life;
• Lotus flower,   symbolizing rebirth and inner struggle;
• Phoenix, the latter like the lotus flower symbolizes rebirth (reborn from the ashes) and immortality;
• The figure of the samurai,  symbolizing honor, strength and courage;
• The geisha,  who tends to define mystery (a bit like woman), charm, beauty and art;
• The snake,  which represents intelligence, wisdom and prosperity;
•  The Hannya mask , deriving from the representation of the Noh theater, that is the theatrical representations of traditional Japanese stories and legends, which can take the form of a jealous and vindictive woman, and which can symbolize unrequited love depending on the colors used for the tattoo (when it is light in color) or strong resentment towards someone / something (when it is red);

Other symbols heavily tattooed in Japan are skulls, demons, severed heads and the Foo Dog . But be careful because they are very popular tattoos even by the Japanese mafia!

Source: Pinterest

The two Japanese tattoo schools

Today in the West there are two Japanese tattoo schools: the traditional one , which follows the very strict dictates of Japanese art, and that of San Francisco . The latter school was born in the context of the Japanese communities of the famous Californian city and, while keeping in mind the traditional rules, it preferred to “pollute” and slightly modernize the techniques used for the realization of the tattoo.

If the Japanese school, as mentioned, obliges you to tattoo by hand , with a certain type of needle and following strict dictates on colors, details and backgrounds, the American one has allowed itself some tears. In fact , the Japanese tattoo school of San Francisco allows you to give shape and meticulous detail to the figures of the drawings. Shades and finishing of details are allowed and to do this we allow the use of smaller and more precise needles and, in some cases, the use of the machine .

The symbolic designs of this modern irezumi are the same as the traditional one, but the perfection of the design appears more evident and in fact young people like it more.