Japanese tattoo designs are filled with symbolism and can help convey a powerful story. When discussing your desired tattoo with our artists, they can create a beautiful design representing your identity.
Dragons, Koi Fish, Wind, and Waves
Symmetrical designs such as dragons, Koi fish, wind, and waves are beloved choices for decorating the body.
Red: Power, Life, and Courage
Red, the color of Japan’s rising sun, symbolizes power, life, and courage. It is commonly used in flag designs and Japanese tattoos.
Blue: Beauty, Luck, and Prosperity
Blue is an iconic symbol in traditional Japanese tattoos, representing beauty, luck, and prosperity. It is also associated with peaceful environments.
Lotus: Purity and Spiritual Awakening
Lotus flower tattoos have become increasingly popular in Japanese tattoo art. They are potent symbols of purity and spiritual awakening. Often, lotus flower tattoos feature Koi fish, symbolizing strength and determination.
Crane: Good Luck, Endurance, and Hope
Cranes are highly revered in Asian culture and symbolize good luck, endurance, and hope. Tattooing a Japanese crane can express affinity for its meanings and is believed to bring good fortune.
Lion: Strength, Power, and Family Ties
Lions are commonly chosen as tattoo motifs to represent strength, power, and family ties. Depicting an image of a lion and its female companion can be a meaningful way to commemorate relationships or family bonds.
Koi Fish: Perseverance, Good Fortune, and Happiness
Koi fish tattoos are iconic in Japanese culture. Different colors of Koi fish carry various meanings, such as red and orange for love, blue for masculinity, and pink for mother-daughter relationships.
Wind and Waves: Turbulence and Teaching Power
Wind and waves are prevalent symbols in Japanese tattoos, representing their turbulent force and peaceful teaching power. Water is significant in Japanese culture and spirituality, making these elements meaningful choices for tattoo designs.
Sakura Flowers: Life and Renewal
Sakura flowers, blooming briefly in early spring, symbolize life and renewal in an endless cycle. tattoos featuring these beautiful blooms have long been favored in Japan.
Words: Kanji and Japanese Elements
Incorporating words written in kanji (Japanese characters) or traditional Japanese elements can make for exceptional tattoo designs. Words hold personal meaning and can also stand alone as unique designs. However, ensure that chosen words have clear and distinct meanings.
Irezumi: The Japanese Tattooing Tradition
Irezumi is the Japanese term for tattoos, which encompasses the three patterns of bunshin (patterning), Shiseido (piercing with blue ink), and get (tattooing). In Japan, there are often negative connotations associated with irezumi, but its acceptance in Western culture has rapidly changed this perception.
