 Tattoo stands for expressing love, special
memory, cultural statement and so on. And if you would like to go with Japanese
tattoos, you will find a wide range of options, styles and designs. You can
even express your personality by drawing these tattoos fitted your style best. Japanese
tattoos are very popular name in the field of body art. In terms of having a
colorful history, numerous designs, good meaning, Japanese tattoos are really
pleasing and made a good demand around the world. And the interesting thing,
however, is that many Japanese still believe that tattoos are connected to the
criminals or these are the habit of lower class people. Nevertheless, a great
number of younger people draw tattoos on their body in western style.
To be sure, Japanese tattoos will give you
stylish look while each of the tattoos bears a symbolic meaning along with
Japanese rich tradition. The tattoos uphold its national values as well as its culture.
Most of the tattoos found in the line of Japanese designs hold profoundly the
written symbols.
The thing hidden in the Japanese tattoos is
the country's tradition. It has a rich and long history regarding tattooing. Tattooing
came into appear in the period of Edo (around 18th century) by the hands of
common people of Edo community. But another source says tattooing in Japan
started many years ago at the Paleolithic period circa 10000 BC.
Due to having some communal problems, Edo
people developed a separated culture for their own interest. Different form of
arts such as fashion, enjoying novels, comic, drama, songs, theatre, involved
in their culture. At that time the ordinary people in working class of Edo
found enjoyment in folk stories, heroes etc. Similarly, they showed interest in
ritualistically designed tattoos based on folklore like dragons, Chinese lions,
giant snakes. Simultaneously, some religious icons like Fudomyo known as the
God of Fire, Bhudda, Fujin and Raijin (Gods of wind and lightning), Kannon
believed as the Goddess of Mercy were also influenced in their tattoo designs.
Thus tattooing in Japanese culture has been spread out and it rooted in its
traditional art form.
The indigenous people known as Ainu were
used to tattooing with a view to decorating themselves. Tattoos were used in
different social purposes as well at that time. Interestingly, traditional
tattoos held connection with notorious criminals and with many businesses such
as fitness centers, as public baths, hot springs etc.
Tattoos designed in Japanese culture hold
some special symbols and messages as well that are commonly seen in western
world. Younger likes to go with American style tattooing with smaller and one
point tattoos. Apart from this, Japanese tattoos snatched the attention of a
number of female also.
Horimono is called Japanese most
traditional tattoo. It was as part of Japanese art form flourished in the
period of 18th century. In recent time, Sanskrit Siddham script tattoos become
as celebrity one. Nevertheless, tattooists still today design traditional
irezumi though it is more expensive ($30,000), time consuming and painful to
draw.
In the early years of tattooing some names
could be mentioned here like Darumakin and Iso (from Yanaka), Kane (Yottsuya)
Karakusagonta (Asakusa), Ichimatsu (Asakusa), who became very famous as
tattooists.
Japanese tattoos like dragons, koi fish and
qilin are worn as a symbol of bringing prosperity in life. Having the country's
own culture, these provide their users extraordinary designs. These are very
big in size which would cover your entire back. Besides, they are quite
expensive as well.
The Kanji is the most popular one. It is
the calligraphy style of writing that got familiarity by its simplicity. It is
very expensive, fashionable and artistic as well. A report says there are at least
40 thousands Kanji symbols in the Japanese tattoos while each of the Kanji
stands for individual meaning or idea or sign. So whatever your desire or style
you can choose any of them that would certainly provide you unique mood or
message.
Hiragana is such a design that is used in
everyday life of Japanese people. It holds the style of writing. The designs of
Hiragana tattoos are more rounded than the character of Kanji. At the same
time, these are more flexible to literal conversion. As a result Hiragana are
frequently seen in the media consisted of newspapers, magazines etc. It is to
be mentioned here that the Hiragana is also called cursive.
Having much similarity with Hiragana, the
tattoo design Katakana is an exclusive tattoo piece in Japanese culture.
Katakana produces some words for the people who are not Japanese in origin.
These tattoos contain sharper edges along with much angular in its look.
Japanese Dragon tattoo is seemed as the source
of good luck as well as the wealth that is also very famous indeed.
Master Calligrapher Eri Takase presents
some attractive Japanese Kanji tattoos. Hiroshi Kawai is another well known
tattoo artist who produced a lot of beautiful tattoos in the fields of Japanese
legends, dragons and old story. Kawai always concentrates how sharply and
articulately he can present the tattoo's line including straight, curve.
The images are seen usually in Japanese
tattoos include different mythological creatures like the phoenix used as sign
of justice and fidelity, dragons
represented male forces. Various animals, birds, plants and religious
images are also used in Japanese tattoo designs.
Many celebrities like Janet Jackson,
Britney Spears, Missy Elliot, Melanie, Alyson Hannigan hold Japanese kanji
tattoo, but each of them keeps of course different purposes in drawing tattoos.
For enhancing your style, you can take any of the tattoo or even more than one
at a once. Taking Hiragana writing along with Kanji symbol would express you in
different way.
However, the gloomy side around drawing
Japanese tattoos is that it needs Japanese artists to make a creative art work
who can only present your desired meaning. So it would be difficult for finding
the artists without having a trip in Japan.
And whatever your choice, it is vital to
keep in mind that Japanese writing is very subtle and complicated. So if you do
not have much knowledge regarding Japanese language it is better to consult an
artist before choosing the tattoo character. But internet would be your
ultimate friend to have Japanese tattoos, their meaning and particular symbol.
Md. Asraful Alam
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