Japanese Tattoos

Traditional Japanese tattoos may be a thing of the past, but their appeal is timeless. Like many other world cultures – maybe even the majority – the Japanese had a traditional and distinctive version of tattoo art.

Japanese tattoo art came into being fairly late, comparatively speaking – unlike the Chinese who practiced the art as early as 2000 BC, tattooing in Japan reached its zenith in the 1800s. This was during the Edo period, a time when the power and influence of the common people was very much on the rise. One way in which people chose to use their new-found wealth was to celebrate their art and culture with Japanese tattoos. The beauty of the images created was considered a reward for enduring what was, at the time, a long and painful process.

Horimono or Irezumi

The type of Japanese tattoo art that was popular at the time was known as horimono or irezumi. It was, in fact, an offshoot of the distinctive woodblock prints, called ukiyo-e, that were also popular at the time. Japanese tattoo art during the Edo period didn’t just use symbols, in many cases an entire painting or woodblock print would be reproduced on someone’s body. This type of traditional Japanese tattoo was beautiful and very distinctive. During this era the best tattoo artists became famous. In fact some of them turned to tattooing as an adjunct to their artistic careers. Often the same artist who rendered a beautiful landscape design on paper or canvas could also reproduce the same image as tattoo art.

Kanji Tattoos

Few people living today are lucky enough to have seen traditional Japanese tattoos in the horimono style. Judging by the landscape watercolors and woodblock prints that still exist, these Japanese tattoos must have been stunning. Nowadays though, most of us prefer tattoo symbols rather than complex pictures, and that is where kanji tattoos come in.

The kanji are the Japanese characters; each one is both a phonetic sound and a symbol. These Japanese tattoo symbols are very popular today, perhaps even more among westerners than among the Japanese themselves! It’s easy to see why; the kanji are understated, yet impactful – both compact and elegant, a kanji tattoo is the perfect way to make an artistic statement that is both modern and meaningful.

Traditional Japanese tattoos may be a thing of the past, but Japanese tattoo designs certainly are not. Kanji tattoo designs probably have yet to reach the height of their popularity, and this Japanese-inspired tattoo art makes a classic statement. In short, Japanese tattoos are still a popular choice for today’s tattoo aficionado.