How to Find Amazing Japanese Tattoos

Let's talk about where you can find Japanese Tattoos. Japanese tattoos are not very hard thing to find on the internet. I bet that you can spend less than five minutes doing a quick search on Google and find thousands of Japanese Tattoos. That's not the tough part though. The main problem most girls and guys have is that all they seem to run into are broad, low end pictures that are not worth the time to print out. One why around this is to do this, especially if you are using a Google search to find your Japanese tattoos.



Now do not take this the wrong way I love to use search engines but they are not just great for everything you are looking for. It's just that they pack with sub-par Japanese tattoos and tattoo artwork. I even tried it myself. No matter which styles of Japanese tattoos I was looking for, it was the same broad, low end galleries that rear their ugly heads. They were just loaded with nothing but run of the mill Japanese tattoos that aren't worth the time.

That's not the worst part of it, though...



When you look for Japanese tattoos at these galleries, most of the pictures they have were not even intended to be used as real Japanese tattoos! Can you believe that they would post this kind of sub-par artwork on their sites, but they did. They don't care if that Japanese tattoo was not really sketched in the way tattoo-art needs to be sketched. As long as it looks somewhat good, they are always willing to put it up on their sites. It's sad, because girls and guys end up choosing sub-par artwork like this and go to get them tattooed. They have no idea that it will not look anywhere near as great on their skin as it looked on the paper it was printed it on.

That is not the form of Japanese tattoos worth settling for. In fact, they are not even real Japanese Tattoos. Ok, enough talk about that. So, how can you find great Japanese tattoos without digging through so much sub-par artwork, low-end pictures?


It's actually pretty easy and will change the way you search for Japanese tattoos. Everything you need when it comes to finding tons of pictures of tattoos is using a forum. Actually, you should use forums for many different products you are looking for on the internet. They are the perfect place for finding out where the hidden artwork is. You see, there are a lot of topics revolving around Japanese tattoos inside of forums. This is why it is a great idea to look there, because these topics usually have loads of links that people have found. They are usually to the hidden artwork sites that have much of the great artwork you've been missing out on. It's a resourceful and different way to find the Japanese tattoos you want. It does not take long to use them and it beats the heck out of seeing the same old artwork all the time.

No matter which Japanese tattoos you decide on, just make certain that you are 110% happy with it before getting it tattooed

The History of Japanese Tattoo Art

Japanese tattoo art has a lot of names - irezumi and horimono in the Japanese language. Irezumi is the word meant for the basic visible ink covering big parts of the body like the back. Japanese tattoo art has a extremely extensive tradition.

Since the influence of Confucianism and Buddhism over the Japanese culture, tattoo art has a damaging connotation for the majority of the Japanese population. In the eyes of an typical Japanese a ink is considered a mark of a yakuza - a member of the Japanese mafia - and a macho emblem of members of the lesser classes.

The Early History of Japanese Tattoo Art



Archaeologists believe that the initial settlers of Japan, the Ainu citizens, used facial tattoos. Chinese papers tell concerning the Wa inhabitants - the Chinese name meant for their Japanese neighbours - and the individuals lifestyle of diving into water for fish and shells and decorating the total skin with tattoos. These reports are in the region of 1700 years old.

For the top developed Chinese culture, tattooing was a barbaric undertaking. As soon as Buddhism was brought from China to Japan and with it the solid influence of the Chinese culture, tattooing got harmful connotations. Criminals were marked with tattoos to punish and identify them within society.

Tattoos in the Edo Period



In the Edo period - 1603-1868 - Japanese tattoo drawings became a part of ukiyo-e - the suspended world culture. Prostitutes - yujos - of the pleasure quarters used tattoos to improve the individuals prettiness for customers. Skin tattoos were furthermore used by labourers and firemen.

From 1720 on, the tattooing of criminals became an legitimate punishment and replaced taking away of the nose and the ears. The criminal received a ring ink around the arm in support of every offence or else a character ink on his temple. Tattooing criminals was continued until 1870, at what time it was abolished by the new Meiji government of the Japanese Emperor.

This visible punishment produced a further genre of outcasts which had no place taking part in society and nowhere to go. A lot of these outlaws were ronin - master less samurai warriors. They had no alternatives than organizing gangs. These men created the start of the yakuza - the controlled criminals inside Japan inside the twentieth century.

Japanese Tattoo Prints



In 1827 the ukiyo-e artist Kuniyoshi Utagawa published the original 6 emblems of the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. The Suikoden were something like ancient Robin Hoods - honourable bandits. The story is based on a classic Chinese novel - Shui-Hi-Chuan, which dates from the 13th and 14th century. The novel was initially translated into Japanese in 1757 by Okajima Kanzanion. By the turn of the 18th to the 19th century the story was available with illustrations by Katsushika Hokusai. The novel of the 108 honourable bandits was extremely accepted in the sphere of Japan and created a kind of Suikoden trend amongst Japanese towns inhabitants.

Kuniyoshi's Suikoden ukiyo-e emblems bare the heroes in colourful, detailed body tattoos. Japanese ink prints and tattoo drawings in general subsequently became stylish. Tattoos were considered iki - cool - however were restricted to the poorer classes.

The richness and fantasy of the Japanese tattoo print emblems revealed by Kuniyoshi are used by a few ink artists up to this moment.

The Meiji Restoration until Postwar Japan

Within its strive to adopt Western civilizations, the Imperial Meiji government outlawed tattooing as something thought about a barbaric relict of the past. The funny thing was that the Japanese irezumi artists right away got brand new customers - the sailors from the foreign ships anchoring inside Japanese harbours. Hence Japanese ink designs was spread to the West.

In the course of the first half of the twentieth century, horimono remained a forbidden art form until 1948, as soon as the prevention was officially lifted. A few say that this step had become needed to sanction the demand by soldiers of the American occupation forces for horimono and irezumi.

Tattoo Art in Modern Japan


A number of younger individuals may well think about tattooing being cool, the majority of the Japanese population still considers it while something connected to the gangland of mafia gangsters and a rough low caste tradition at the finest. Younger folks who consider tattoos as iki - a marginal amongst Japanese youth - tend to use partial tattoos inside Western style on the persons upper arms, someplace it is not directly visible.

What You Should Know About Kanji Tattoo Designs

Kanji tattoo designs are beautiful and mysterious, and many more people are choosing to permanently adorn their body with one of these tattoos. Even if you don't completely understand the meaning of the design, these tattoos of Japanese characters are sure to catch your attention.

Kanji characters are not just symbols or patterns - they carry a deeper meaning. Before engraving a Kanji character on your body, be sure to do intensive research so that you are aware of what the character means, and that the meaning accurately reflects your personality and personal interests and values.

There are several things to think about before getting a Kanji tattoo design. First of all, you should know where the Kanji writing style came from. This style of script was adopted by the Japanese after originating in ancient China. Kanji went through several changes over the centuries before becoming what it is today. With many different characters to choose from, you will have no problem finding a character that suits you. Both tattoo enthusiasts and artists alike are enamored by this type of tattoo, which is why it continues to gain popularity.

Although Kanji tattoos continue to gain popularity, many people are misusing this design style by not being aware of the true meaning of their tattoo. By not knowing what your tattoo actually means, you could inadvertently offend someone who does know what it means. You may experience embarrassment or regret by having a tattoo that may be offensive to others. You never want to get a Kanji tattoo design without knowing exactly what it means. Thoroughly researching your design will prevent this.



Kanji tattoo designs are meant to be used as a way to express yourself, but because of their popularity, they are a common tattoo design. Often, however, the majority of these beautiful tattoo designs are used with the wrong intent. There are thousands of people sporting mysterious Kanji tattoos without knowing what their body art really means. Evidently, these folks were more concerned with looking cool rather than knowing what their tattoo actually stands for and means.

Kanji tattoo designs are meant to provide tattoo enthusiasts with a great way to express their individuality. It's great to use these body art designs as a way to express yourself, but in order to stay true to yourself make sure to choose a character or phrase that really speaks to you!

Kanji Tattoo Designs and Its Meanings

In recent years, the Japanese language has undergone some changes to its writing style. The Japanese had no writing style till 400 AD and most of their current words were loaned from Chinese script. Now it has words from three main scripts such as katakana, hiragana and kanji. If you are not from the Eastern world, Chinese and Japanese scripts have more than 3000 characters and some characters need to be written with more than 30 strokes. A lot to research when considering a Kanji tattoo design.



Kanji tattoo designs are very catchy to each one's eye and have strong meanings. Many people are fascinated towards eastern culture and their martial arts these days; they don't think twice to get a kanji tattoo on their body to represent an Asian heritage. Kanji characters were also popular through sumo wrestlers, when Asian sports went live to all over the world.

Kanji scripts can mean more powerful, cool and expressive words in either one or two characters and thus makes it as an incredible writing art. The most preferred words among the tattoo lovers are; brave, danger, love, peace, dragon and naughty. The artistic nature is one reason to get a Kanji tattoo more so than the meaning. But, it's wise to be alert while choosing a permanent Kanji tattoo designs on your body, a wrong meaning may make you feel dumb rather than brave.



Kanji can be tattooed on any part of your body and mainly preferred to be done over the neck or on arms. Black ink is used to write most of the time and maybe written in pink if a female is interested in this style. It can be written either in a small or in a large size depending on the location. Kanji scripts may not always have a translated English name and it may sound different sometimes. It is better to consult a specialized kanji tattoo artist and Japanese translator before getting it done.

In historical days of Japan, criminals were tattooed to have a bad identity and which alarmed the general public around him. Japanese prostitutes tried many tattoos on their body to have a dead gorgeous look and which attracted many customers. All the above negative practices in Japanese history kept a common Japanese to be outraged from the tattoo. But, western trends exhibited tattoo as a religion, an incredible art and fashion. Now, the current fashion world tempted Japanese also in tattooing over the body.

Choose a perfect kanji design that reflects your true character and show it your friends and loved ones proudly and be sure that the meaning is correct. Many people choose a design without knowing its meaning through proper sources and feel bad later on.

Popular Asian Tattoos - Geisha Tattoo

Contrary to popular western notions, the Japanese geisha is not generally a woman of ill repute. The word literally means “art person” and a geisha is a highly trained professional woman whose traditional occupation is to entertain men. Singing, dancing, playing music, knowledge of history and current events, the ability to make conversation and to create an atmosphere of relaxation and entertainment are the essential skills of the geisha. Skills specific to Japanese culture would include being able to perform the tea ceremony or perhaps even being skilled at flower arrangement or calligraphy.



Geishas are immaculately and sumptuously dressed in ornate and expensive kimonos. Not a strand of hair is out of place, their white facial make-up is perfect. Their manners are not only impeccable but delicate and calm, in keeping with the ideals of feminine beauty that they embody.

Geisha Tattoo DesignIn modern Japan, geishas have been transformed into symbols of traditional values. In the west, the geisha has become a symbol of the exotic grace and beauty of the East.

In this tattoo design, the wind has ruffled her kimono and set some pieces of paper loose, perhaps from the sheaf tucked near her arm.



The wind has also loosed some petals of cherry blossoms which are beginning to swirl past her. They echo the cherry blossom design of the lower part of her kimono while the upper part makes use of the chrysanthemum. Both flowers are frequently used in Japanese art and in Japanese tattoo

Geisha Tattoo - Asian Tattoos

Geisha tattoos are extremely feminine and are considered beautiful and erotic. These sensual and graceful tattoos generally represent a woman’s desires and dreams to escape the trappings of everyday life. Based of the design of a porcelain doll a geisha tattoo can also represent a fantasy world and take onlookers and the wearer alike, to another place in time.



A geisha tattoo is an elegant and sexy choice for any woman. Steeped in superstition and lore for hundreds of years and surrounded by unbridled beauty and grace this tattoo will always be delightful.



A geisha tattoo is usually drawn in a portrait like style of a woman with her hair-up and face painted white with exuberant doll like features. Bright colors are abound with rich pigmentation. Sometimes other images are displayed with the geisha to add to the particular effect. With more traditional Japanese geisha tattoos you will see images such as cherry blossoms, peaches, fans, and ornamental robes surrounding the image. Fantasy geishas are drawn in more of a pin-up model style and will be displayed with more of an imaginative approach.