![]() Japanese traditional designs feature rich color, heavy single fill and bold outline designs often covering large areas of skin. While not deemed illegal any more, tattoos remain heavily stigmatized in conservative Japan despite the younger generation picking up body art as a mean of self expression and defiance against the hugely conservative Japanese government. In times of life and death, these were the guiding values that kept them strong in times of chaos, which is why samurai warriors remain a source of interest to rival medieval knights in allure and grandeur. Samurai warriors followed the practice of Bushido and pledged themselves to moral principles such as courage, honor, and respect. Koi are also associated with flowers such as the lotus, chrysanthemum, and sakura (cherry blossom). In Japanese mythology every koi that swims up the Chinese Yellow River and bests the waterfalls known as the “Dragon’s Gate” is transformed from a fish into a mythical dragon Many Irezumi feature Koi and dragons together negotiating turbulent waters to signify toughness and durability. Flags of the fish are raised on May 5 every year when a new son is born to the household, in the hope they grow strong. In Japanese art the koi fish is a symbol of masculinity. Toward the end of the gallery and breakdown you’ll find useful insight into Japanese tattoo terminology, and a FAQ section to help you learn more about the often complex culture of Japanese ink you can apply to your next tattoo design. The following collection of brilliant designs feature some elements of the expansive Japanese tattoo style, but they showcase beautiful symbolic body art and decorative tattooing that is as good as any that you will ever see. Now, every tattoo studio should have a tattoo artist versed in Japanese decorative tattooing or be left behind by competitors with such a visible tattoo style advantage. Famed tattoo artists such as Sailor Jerry and Don Ed Hardy incorporated the Japanese style into their tattoos and wider art, changing the complexion of tattoo culture world wide almost completely. When American GI’s left Tokyo after World War II, they brought back to the US a love for the taboo tattoo tradition of the Japanese Yakuza (mafia crime families), who bore large, brightly colored and elaborate body suits depicting Japanese mythology on their skin. Tattoo technology has caught up to tradition and most designs are now done by a tattoo artist using a machine, however the mystique of traditional Japanese tattooing remains. Irezumi tattoos are used as a blanket term to describe various tattoo-by-hand styles originating in Japan. We hope this collection has inspired you and that you’ll think about adding one of these unique creatures to your own Japanese tattoo collection.Nothing has had a greater impact on Western body art illustration than Japanese tattoo design, collectively known as Irezumi. There are so many films out there but our favorites happen to be Kwaidan, Hausu, Kuroneko, Spirited Away, and A Letter to Momo. ![]() If you’re less into reading and more into experiencing, then perhaps a Japanese monster movie night is the perfect thing. Another suggestion would be to peruse the images of the “He-Gassen”, which is a 200 year old, 34 foot long scroll with illustrations depicting “the fart wars”. We also have an article about Ero Guro, which is a fascinating art movement that is also still influential to tattooing today. ![]() ![]() If you’d like to read more about this particular aspect of Japanese tattoos we’d suggest checking out “Dream Spectres” which is part of a series of books that highlights various Japanese artworks and the myths or characters within them. ![]() If you’ve read this far we assume you’re pretty interested in the monsters, spirits, and spectres of Japanese mythology. ![]()
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