So You Want a Japanese Tattoo...

Ah tattoos...very personal symbols indeed. From what image to colors, to placement you use is your own. As otaku, there may be certain...Japanese tattoos that inspire you. So allow me to give you some advice on how to go about getting your perfect ink. This entry will only be about designs. I'll post another bit later on choosing an artist and the process.

First and foremost, you have to remember that tattoos are permanent. Yes, there is painful, expensive surgery to get rid of them; but why would you waste your time, money, and pain tolerance on removal when you can just take your time in thinking about what you want on your skin for the rest of your life. For now, we'll focus on three Japanese styles: art, kanji, and anime.

Art: Japanese art tattoos have a very distinct style that suits skin well. Ever notice how tattooed images can look a little...cartoony? Well Japanese style tats bend that look into a graceful art. However, there is something important to keep in mind...the Yakuza.

I was quite surprised when my friend in Kanazawa informed me that tattoos are not very well accepted in Japan. In fact, most tattoos are associated with Yakuza. You wouldn't be allowed in most hot springs without covering your ink. Even worse, you damn well better not get caught by one of these guys with a full-body Yakuza design. Take the Japanese tattoo style and make it something of your own. Don't be a poser.

Kanji: The same friend of mine has a brother who got some kanji tattooed on his neck. He thought it read "spiritual energy" but ended up actually being something more like "sexual power." The moral of this story is: always research your kanji. There are websites that will charge you to design your kanji tattoo, but if it's not something too obscure, you can easily do some internet research and save some images. Be sure to cross-reference your words. Just like in English, there are heterographs (words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings such as "roll" and "role" or "bored" and "board.") For example, the word "jishin" can mean both "earthquake" or "self-confidence" depending on how the kanji is drawn.

I got lucky with my kanji tattoo. I always knew that I wanted "unmei" on my left ankle. I happened to wander into a store where they had a calligrapher who would design the tattoos for the artists to trace on the skin. (There's a funny story here, but this is a lengthy post as is) As long as you know exactly what you want and how the kanji is supposed to look, you should be alright.

Anime: We love our anime. Some of it means more to us than others. Sometimes we find a symbol or a character we can relate to on a deep level. The most important question to ask yourself when considering an anime tattoo is "Will I be embarrassed to explain to others what this is?" If the answer is "yes," you might want to reconsider.

As some of you heard, I recently got an anime-related tattoo. I don't have a finished image yet, but I'll post it when I do. I decided to get the rose crest from the TV version of "Revolutionary Girl Utena." Why that symbol? I have my reasons. It's not just because I love the anime, but it's a series that some of my dearest friends and I bonded over. To me, it doesn't just symbolize my passion for anime, it also symbolizes the love I have for my friends.

In conclusion, think long and hard about what you want etched into your skin. Make it worth your time, money, and pain. More on the mechanics of getting a tattoo next time.