The Japanese Tattoo

What is the history of Japanese Tattoos? What do Japanese Tattoos Mean? What are the different types of Japanese Tattoos?

The Japanese Tattoo also called Irezumi or Horimono as well as Wabori, is a unique and intricate form of traditional tattooing. This style incorporates large-scale images inspired by Japanese history, folklore, religious symbology, historical figures and scenes of nature. One of the defining features of the Japanese tattoo is the use of vast black and grey backgrounds, usually depicting elements like water, wind, and clouds. These elements surround and complement the central design.

what is a japanese body suit or full body tattoo called? soushinbori

In a traditional Japanese full-bodysuit tattoo or Soushinbori elaborate tattoos cover every part of the body with the exception of the hands, feet, head, face, and neck. This creates a suit-like, stunning and cohesive piece of body art.

The Japanese Body Suit Tattoo

Placement and Body Parts

What is a Japanese back piece tattoo called? Kame-no-koh

What is a Japanese chest tattoo called? Hikae

what are japanese sleeve tattoos called?

Before we get into what the different types of Japanese tattoo sleeves are called there are a couple of things to take into consideration. Firstly, themes from left and right are sub-divided into feminine themes on the left and male themes on the right. An example is a dragon with an open mouth on the right, a dragon mouth closed on the left. Another example could be a koi swimming up on the right, a koi swimming down on the left. This is not something written in stone and does not have to be precisely followed. However, if you a looking to have this type of balance this would be how it is done.

Japanese sleeves can be broken down into three different lengths; full, 3/4 (or 7/10ths) and half. While we are on the subject there is also no-thing called a forearm sleeve. The sleeves and their length and corresponding names are derived from clothing. Maybe if you wanted to be cute you could call a “calf-sleeve, a leg warmer tattoo or a sock” but there is no-thing called a calf or forearm sleeve. Starting your sleeve on your forearm or calf is also backwards. These parts can be incorporated into a sleeve obviously but you wouldn’t normally start there and then come back later and work your way up.

what is a japanese full tattoo sleeve Called? nagasode

What is a Japanese 7/10ths or 3/4 tattoo sleeve called? shichibusode

What is a japanese half sleeve or 5/10ths tattoo called? gobusode

Japanese abdomen and rib tattoos

It is considered that traditionally the abdomen and then legs should follow the back, arms and chest. The abdomen and legs would connect and continue the back. Generally each of the rib areas and each side of the front of the body under the chest would be considered an individual location for a specific tattoo. Often times there will be either countering images “good” on one side and “evil” on the other (I used those terms lightly as a point of reference hence the quotations) or complementing such as Fujin (wind god) on one side and Raijin (thunder god and Fujin’s brother) on the other.

There are two ways of tattooing the abdomen or front body Muniwari and Donburi.

What is the open space in the front of a japanese body suit called? Muniwari

What is a Japanese body suit tattoo with a closed front called? Donburi

what are Japanese Leg tattoos called?

There are basically three stages of leg tattoos in the Japanese bodysuit. Gobu, Hanzubon and Nagasode (full leg, same as the arms).

Hands, Feet, Neck and Head

Traditionally, these spaces would be left open. However, times are always changing as well as the social attitudes associated with these locations being tattooed. It is common to get symbols for long life on your feet and sacred symbols are becoming popular motifs to be placed on the head. Personally, I think the Japanese bodysuit looks best without the neck or hands being tattooed. Opinions, opinions we all have them.

Japanese Tattoo Terms and Definitions

What is Shudai?

Shudai are the main subjects in a Japanese tattoo. These could be dragons, tigers, goddesses, gods, samurai, koi fish, etc.

what is keshoubori?

Keshoubori are the compliments to the main subject. Typically these secondary elements would be used to specify season or atmosphere. They could be floral, such as cherry blossoms, peonies, maple leaves, etc., but they could also be things like lightening or other smaller images that compliment the main subject of the tattoo and would then become a recurring element throughout a body suit.

What is Nukibori?- tattoo without background

Nukibori tattoos are only the main subject with no other elements. An example might be a dragon on the back with no flowers, background or other elements. Another example of this might be a flower design on an arm with no background or other elements. These types of tattoos are usually worn by women according to Japanese tattoo tradition.

what is mikiri?- borders

Mikiri is specifically referring to the border of the tattoo where it ends and open skin starts. There are several types of Mikiri. The two most popular types are; Botan-giri and Bukkiri or Butsu-giri. There are other border types that are more antiquated; Matsuba Mikiri which uses straight lines, similar to pine needles, to form a border, Akebono Mikiri which means daybreak and like the sun fades out on the edges and Jari Mikiri which have a gravelly or dotted border.

what is botan-giri?

what is bukkiri or Butsu-giri?

Gakubori-Tattoo with background

Beyond the main theme of the tattoo is the Gakubori. Gakubori compliments the main theme with its’ environment. This is achieved by adding backgrounds such as clouds or waves or smoke. It has the effect of making the main theme stand out in the same way as framing a painting. The Literal translation of Gaku 額 is “framed”, Bori 彫り is “tattoo”. Gakubori has specific shapes and formula.

what is tebori?

Tebori is the traditional method of tattooing in Japan. The Tebori method uses a tool called Sashibo. The Sashibo is made of different sizes of bamboo sticks which have different numbers and configurations of needles attached to them with cord or string. This tool is then dipped into ink and used to puncture the skin and deliver ink under the skin. This method is slower but no less intricate in the hands of a master. Some say it is less painful and heals more quickly than modern tattoo techniques which use machines.

what is kikaibori?

Kikaibori is the term used for the modern method of tattooing with a machine.

History, Folklore, Meanings and Symbolism

History

Tattooing for spiritual and decorative purposes in Japan is thought to extend back to at least the Jōmon or paleolithic period (approximately 10,000 BC) on the Japanese archipelago. In the following Yayoi period(c. 300 BC–300 AD), tattoo designs were observed and remarked upon by Chinese visitors in Kyushu. Such designs were thought to have spiritual significance as well as functioning as a status symbol. A further record in the Nihon Shoki (sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan) (the second-oldest book of classical Japanese history) chronicles that tattooing traditions were confined only to the Tsuchigumo people. Starting in the Kofun period (300–600 AD), tattoos began to assume negative connotations. Instead of being used for ritual or status purposes, tattoo marks began to be placed on criminals as a punishment.

It was in the Edo period (1603–1867) however, that Japanese decorative tattooing began to develop into the advanced art form it is known as today. The impetus for the development of irezumi as an artform was the development of the art of woodblock printing, and the release of the popular Chinese novel Suikoden in 1757 in Japan; though the novel dates back several centuries before this, 1757 marked the released of the first Japanese edition. Suikoden, a tale of rebel courage and manly bravery, was illustrated with lavish woodblock prints showing men in heroic scenes, their bodies decorated with dragons and other mythical beasts, flowers, ferocious tigers and religious images. The novel was an immediate success, creating a demand for the type of tattoos seen in the woodblock illustrations. There is some academic debate over who wore these elaborate tattoos. Some scholars say that it was the lower classes who wore—and flaunted—such tattoos. Others claim that wealthy merchants, barred by law from flaunting their wealth, wore expensive irezumi under their clothes. It is known for certain that irezumi became associated with firemen, who wore them as a form of spiritual protection.

what are japanese tattoos called?

Japanese tattoos have many names each with a slightly different meaning. Japanese tattoos can be called Irezumi, Wabori, Horimono, Bunshin, Shisei or Gei.

In Japanese the word Irezumi means “to insert ink” or tattoo. Synonyms include bunshin ('patterning the body'), shisei ('piercing with blue'), and gei ('tattooing'). Each of these synonyms can also be read as irezumi. Irezumi started to become a frequently used term by the Japanese population in 1720. It was in this year, during the Edo period (1603-1868), that tattooing started to be used for punitive purposes on the island. Today, this word can still have a negative image in Japan, depending on to whom you are talking. Tattoos are also sometimes called horimono which has a slightly different significance and can also refer to the practice of traditional tattooing in Japanese culture. The term Horimono might also have a direct lineage to the Yakuza and the style and placement they chose to create in order to wear a kimono in public places without compromising the wearer or the tattoo. Many tattoo artists in Japan prefer the word Horimono over Irezumi because of the later word’s negative connotation, though that is changing with the popularization of the word Irezumi. Much like in the west where tattoos were long considered to be wore by “bad” people, the negative view of tattoos is wearing off in Japan with it’s popularity among younger people and influences from the west.

For more information about Irezumi and its’ criminal ties in Japan click this link here.

Folklore

The Japanese tattoo as we know it today started with the introduction of the Suikoden to the Japanese population. This book of heroes and their exploits caught the attention of many people in Japanese society. As many of the characters and depictions in this book show the characters covered in tattoos it spurred a new wave of tattoo collectors in Japan. Tattooing kept evolving during the Edo era, either out of appeal or perhaps to hide punitive tattoos. Its evolution is directly tied to ukiyo-e art, Japanese woodcut printing, which is one of the most famous forms of traditional Japanese graphic art. The engravings of Ukiyo-e are filled with various themes including; landscapes, kabuki (Japanese theater) actors and the masks associated with them, shunga (erotic scenes), or Yokai (spirits). Some of these themes then began to make their appearance in Japanese tattoos. Buddhism and Shintoism have also contributed greatly to the Japanese tattoo designs people get today.

Buddhism being a large religion in Japan many people want tattoos with religious meaning such as the Buddha, similar to people in the west getting tattoos of Christian symbols; praying hands, bible quotes and reproductions of the image of Jesus. But Shintoism is the main source of inspiration for Japanese tattoo designs.

Shinto ("the way of the gods") is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and is as old as Japan itself. "Shinto gods" are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami. The kami of extraordinary people are even enshrined at some shrines. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is considered Shinto's most important kami. In contrast to many monotheistic religions, Shinto does not have absolutes. There is no absolute right and wrong and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami. It was through this belief system that most of the Gods and Goddesses as well as Yokai came to be symbols that show up constantly in Japanese tattoos.

Meanings and Symbolism

I have realized over the years that many people come to me with the most basic and common ideas for their Japanese tattoo designs such as a Koi or Dragon. (Not that there is anything wrong with these at all!) Many times people have come to me and said I want a samurai for instance, to which I respond, which one? Most people don’t realize that Japanese samurai tattoos are based on people who actually existed and the stories associated with them. This is mostly due to the fact that obtaining a deeper knowledge of the designs available takes a lot of research and the internet is full of false information copy and pasted from one site to another. The Japanese culture is old, rich, deep and to westerners often somewhat impenetrable.

With this resource, I wanted to give my potential customers and anyone that might stumble upon this site, an opportunity to gain a little more knowledge (and for me in the process of creating it more knowledge as well). It is for this reason I decided to compile all of the information above as well as this library of Japanese Tattoo ideas and their meanings.

See these below.

Japanese Tattoos and What They Mean