Most Japanese tattoos found on tattoo shop walls - and on most people's skin - are printed in a bland, everyday variety of type. The written Japanese and Chinese languages are composed not of individual letters but of ideographs or pictographs, which represent an idea or thing. Some characters consist of more than 30 strokes.
The two languages share some of the same pictographs, for instance those meaning beauty, love, woman, strength and happiness. Such concepts are the most commonly requested. Things borrowed from other cultures can come to have a deeper, more personal meaning. The visual force of the Chinese and Japanese characters is quite dramatic and has a beauty of its own.
In business since 1949, tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle counts Janis Joplin, Peter Fonda, Joan Baez and "all the members of the Allman Brothers" among his customers. He owned the San Francisco Tattoo Museum until the 1989 earthquake destroyed his building.
The popularity of kanjis in the West hasn't impressed many of those who speak or read Japanese or Chinese fluently. Kanjis may look cool to non Japanese or Chinese speakers but don't always make sense to native speakers. A true Japanese tattoo has meaning.
Kanjis are NOT really a traditional Japanese tattoo BUT more a style of tattoo. If you are getting a kanji be sure that what you are getting done is something that means a lot to you and is translated correctly.
Click below to see view pictures of tattoos from site visitors, rate their ink and read comments from others about your tattoos.
Asian Tattoo Meaning Dragon
The dragon symbol...
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Kanji
My second tattoo meaning "Never hesitate to do the right thing".
Want your kanji tattoo translated (and designed) by a native speaker?
Kanji Tattoo - Meaning Unknown
I and two other friends all got matching tats, it was supposed to mean COURAGE, then we were later told it meant BRAVE. I have searched for hours online....
Kanji Tattoo ... I Think!
Does anyone know what this means?
Want your name translated properly into kanji?
Kanji Tattoo on Side
The tattoo is a traditional Kanji design Bushido the meaning is ( The way of the Samurai ). The is artist is Chris Terranova aka Cupcake it only took about ...
Kanji Tattoo
The tattoo is a traditional Kanji design Bushido the meaning is ( The way of the Samurai ). The is artist is Chris Terranova aka Cupcake it only took about ...
Kanji Symbol Tattoo
I GOT THIS TATTOO IN THAILAND AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IT'S MEANING.
SINCERELY,
TOMISLAV
Beautiful Floral Kanji Tattoo
The above kanji tattoo shows the symbol 新生
Comments When the angled lines of the top kanji don't connect to the center line, they can ...
Japanese Kanji Tattoo
Got it 12 years ago, on lower back was 17...don't really remember. Just want to know what it really means. Think it means "good luck" in Japanese...
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Kanji Tattoo
This is a friend of mine's tat. Her husband picked it out one day and never told her what it meant.
What Does This Kanji Tattoo Mean?
See pic ^^
Kanji Tattoo on Girls Hip
Kinda liking this kanji tattoo on this girl.
Find out the meaning of your kanji tattoo.
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Kanji Tattoo
Carpe diem.
Live For Today (Kanji)
It' supposed to be for "Live For Today" and I'm hoping that's what it means. It took the artist about 40 minutes to complete.
Kanji Tattoo on Upper Back
Two Kanji tattoos on my upper back, right below my neck which mean "Sex & Peace."
Japanese Kanji Tattoo
Kyokushin Symbol
Kanji Tattoo Design
My tattoo is a Kanji style with the symbol meaning 'mother and son' and then I have my sons name under that. It took about 30 minutes and its on my right ...
Japanese Kanji Tattoo
Kanji Tattoo - Unknown Meaning
What does this tattoo mean?
Kanji
The top two are kanji for 'Live For Today', then a small butterfly then the kanji symbol for 'Friendship'.
Kanji Tattoo - Meaning Unknown
What does it mean? It took an hour.
Want your kanji tattoo translated and designed by a native speaker?
Kanji Tattoo (Translation Required)
Anyone know the translation of this tattoo? My friend says it means FAITH but we can't find anything that looks like it...
Kanji Tattoo Design on Neck
35 mins on 6th St. In Austin TX.
Rose Fairy Tattoo
Took 5 hrs to complete. On my left calf. Hometown Ink, Redlands, CA.
Kanji Tattoo
Asking what this kanji means please.
Kanji Tattoo as a Memorial
This kanji tattoo was done for a nephew who passed on.
Never forget...
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Kanji Tattoo Meaning Courage
It is supposed to mean courage but I doubt that's what it means. I got it when I was younger, dumb move I know. Does anyone know what it really means?
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Kanji - Chaos
I got this on the side of my neck, Andy at Permagrafix in Albany, Oregon did it. Took about 40 minutes. Not at all painful. I could hardly even feel any ...
Chinese Character Tattoo
It was done at a local tattoo parlor, supposed to mean "hope". Can someone shed some light on it or please decipher what it actually means?
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Prison Tattoo
Can anyone tell me if this is a symbol and if so what it means?
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angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly ...
Name in Japanese Kanji
It took about 25 minutes. It means Kami. My name is Kamila and I know Kami in Japanese is an oath to God. It was the best tattoo I ever did...
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'Beautiful Soul' Kanji Tattoo
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I got this a week ago I looked up the meaning but I just wanna make sure its is what it says which is 'beautiful soul'.
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Kanji Tattoo - Translation Required
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Got this in LA several years ago. Joy, happiness, I don't remember to be honest. Anyone know?
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Tribal Tattoo on Girl's Back
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It was a cover up, I had let my friend free hand a tribal, and then another friend of mine added to it which made it a lot more sexy then it was. And now ...
Tattoo Meaning Truth
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Its just a small tattoo which means truth...
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Kanji Tattoo
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It took about 45 mins to put it down.
Want your kanji tattoo translated (and designed) by a native speaker?
Name and Stars Inked on Back
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Nome da minha irmă
Pamkk
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Meaning of Kanji Script?
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I want this on my upper back i was told it says 'don't die wondering' but wanted to make sure b4 i made it permanent.
Kanji Translation Required
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Ok i would like to get 'Don't Die Wondering' on my back horizontally. Can anyone how actually knows show me how to write it?
* Click image to find ...
Kanji Tattoo - Faith, Honor, Love
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My brother had this done in two phases. The one in the center was first and is supposed to mean "honor." The second sitting was done at a different shop,...
Kanji Tattoo Meaning Love
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This took about an hour and is the symbol of love in Japanese.
Kanji Tattoo and English Script
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English script and kanji can work well together if you get it right ;-)
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Kanji, Lotus Flower and Koi Fish Tattoo
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I love this kanji tattoo...
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Hot Kanji Tattoo on Girl in Bikini
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It is hard to identify what this kanji tattoo means because the characters are not easy to identify. Although it could translate to say something like:...
Hot Kanji Tattoo on Girl in Bikini
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It is hard to identify what this kanji tattoo means because the characters are not easy to identify. Although it could translate to say something like:...
Kanji Tattoo on Girls Back
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This kanji tattoo translates as A New Life .
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Lucky Star With Chinese Writing
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I want a black star and inside a Chinese word like "luck".
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angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos ...
Tribal Tattoo With Snowflakes
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I didn't want the typical tramp stamp with butterflies or flowers. I love tribals and winter is my favorite season, so this just kinda happened. I got ...
Kanji Tattoo With Different Styles
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I love the way this guy called Shantae has integrated the kanji tattoo with different styles and scripts.
Coolism!
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Small Kanji Tattoo on Finger
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The characters both mean 'forever' in Japanese kanji. No sure about the trashy chewed nails and chipped nail polish lolz!
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Beautiful Kanji Tattoo on Girl
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This kanji translates to beauty and joy which seems a very appropriate meaning.
Do you need to know the meaning of a word for your kanji tattoo?
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Wrong Kanji Tattoo
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WTF! This guy with the kanji tattoo on his back probably thinks it is his name in Japanese characters. It actually translates as bad girl .
Want ...
Japanese Style Sleeve Tattoo
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Still very much work in progress and will probably be that till i die or am to wrinkly lol. So far this is about 3 hours work.
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Tiger Tattoo With Lilies
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It's a Bengal tiger with two blue and purple lilies framing the left side of its head.
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angel tattoos , black and gray ...
Horse Tattoo
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Took about an hour and a half, got it done by Cactus at Tattoo Power in the ACT - is an awesome tattoo artist and im really happy with it... one of many ...
Tribal Sun Tattoo
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This tribal sun was inspired by the group Godsmack. It is in the center of my lower back.
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angel tattoos , black and ...
Tropical Hibiscus Tattoo
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This orange tropical hibiscus is on my right ankle. It was done in about 45 minutes. Medusa from Craven Ink in Greeneville, TN is the artist.
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Kanji Symbol in Sun
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Kanji symbol.
Large Dragons & Flames Tattoo
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A Dragon coming through clouds and Flames with pair of eyes on back part of design on right forearm original design by me artwork done by Megan at 'Inner ...
Sun Tattoo With Kanji Symbol
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Sun Shaped with the inside of the the sun with the symbol of Son, took 45 mins , paid 80 bucks for it, the artist was awesome she didn't like what we brought ...
Taz Tattoo
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well its taz on my leg it took about 2 hours ..
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Kanji Tattoo
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It means....
Independent Spirit / Heart / Soul / Mind. Was done at Wildfire tattoo's in Cape Town, South Africa. www.tattoo.co.za
Took about 35 minutes ...
Thai Buddhist Tattoo
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This tattoo was done by Tony in Bangkok, it took three hours to complete. It's a tattoo of some important Thai proverbs (which I'm not going to translate ...
Tribal Sun Tattoo
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My first tattoo..i've wanted this tattoo since 8th grade and i am now 21! I had a hemp necklace like this back in the day so thats how i got the idea..i ...
