Kanji for Tattoos
Are you looking for a Japanese tattoo or want to have Japanese characters on your T-shirt, but are afraid of being tricked into getting characters that has obscene or stupid meanings? Look no further. Here's a great list of kanji for tattoos.
I have no idea of why we Westerners have such a fascination for Eastern characters. Maybe because it's a fragrance of the mystical east, maybe it's the beauty of the characters, or simply just a way to make a word more complicated than it has to be.
いれずみ (Tattoos) in Japan
As it has been in many Western countries in the past, there are still some pretty strong opinions on いれずみ (tattoos) in Japan. It is very uncommon to see people with いれずみ in Japan, and many people think that only criminals have tattoos.
There are actually places that ban いれずみ. I have seen it on the door of いざかや (izakaya), and I have heard people with いれずみ are often not welcome in せんとう (sentou) either. This is often connected with the establishments not wanting to have the やくざ (Japanese mafia) as customers. やくざ often have extensive tattoos.
As some of you may know, it has in recent years actually been popular to do the opposite in Japan, to use Western characters and words on clothes, in commercials and even when giving names to your children.
But anyway, here's our list of characters that will make up great いれずみ. Additionally, you can of course look up more words by yourself in the dictionary on this site. If you make a いれずみ from this list, please share with us. Send us a picture to the forum!
General
一番
|
ichiban |
|
the best |
| 健康 |
kenkou
|
|
health
|
| 平和 |
heiwa |
|
peace
|
金
|
kane
|
|
money |
| 愛 |
ai
|
|
love
|
| 美 |
bi
|
|
beauty
|
音楽
|
ongaku
|
|
music
|
Near and Dear
| 友達 |
tomodachi
|
|
friend
|
| 家族 |
kazoku |
|
family |
| 恋人 |
koibito |
|
lover |
| 母 |
haha |
|
mother |
| 父 |
chichi |
|
father |
| 兄 |
ani |
|
older brother |
| 弟 |
otouto |
|
younger brother |
| 姉 |
ane |
|
older sister |
| 妹 |
imouto
|
|
younger sister |
| 兄弟 |
kyoudai |
|
brothers, siblings |
| 姉妹 |
shimai |
|
sisters |
Emotions and Spirituality
神
|
kami
|
|
god
|
| 気 |
ki |
|
spirit, mood
|
和
|
wa |
|
peace, harmony, sum
|
| 禅 |
zen
|
|
zen (buddhism)
|
| 悟り |
satori
|
|
enlightenment (in buddhism)
|
尊敬
|
sonkei
|
|
respect, (esteem, honor)
|
| 希望 |
kibou
|
|
hope
|
| 信念 |
shinnen
|
|
belief, faith, conviction
|
| 勇 |
yuu
|
|
bravery, heroism
|
| 欲望 |
yokubou
|
|
desire, (appetite)
|
幸福
|
koufuku
|
|
happiness
|
自由
|
jiyuu
|
|
freedom
|
| 名誉 |
meiyo
|
|
honor, (credit, prestige)
|
夢
|
yume
|
|
dream
|
完全
|
kanzen
|
|
perfect
|
約束
|
yakusoku
|
|
promise
|
秘密
|
himitsu
|
|
secret
|
知恵
|
chie
|
|
wisdom (sagasity, sense, intelligence)
|
Martial Arts and History
| 空手 |
karate |
|
karate
|
合気道
|
aikido |
|
aikido
|
柔道
|
judo |
|
judo
|
剣道
|
kendo |
|
kendo
|
| 相撲 |
sumou
|
|
sumo wrestling
|
侍
|
samurai
|
|
samurai
|
武士道
|
bushidou
|
|
the way of the warrior (samurai code)
|
| 王 |
oo
|
|
king
|
| 刀 |
katana
|
|
sword, blade
|
| 忍者 |
ninja
|
|
ninja
|
| 手裏剣 |
shuriken
|
|
throwing star
|
| 浪人 |
rounin
|
|
lordless samurai |
| 将軍 |
shougun
|
|
feudal lord
|
|
|
|
|
Directions and Nature
| 北 |
|
kita |
|
north |
東
|
|
higashi |
|
east |
西
|
|
nishi |
|
west |
南
|
|
minami
|
|
south |
天
|
|
ten
|
|
heaven
|
天使
|
|
tenshi
|
|
angel |
雪
|
|
yuki
|
|
snow
|
| 風 |
|
kaze
|
|
wind
|
台風
|
|
taifu
|
|
typhoon
|
津波
|
|
tsunami
|
|
tsunami
|
太陽
|
|
taiyou
|
|
sun, solar
|
日
|
|
hi
|
|
sun
|
月
|
|
tsuki
|
|
moon
|
海
|
|
umi
|
|
sea
|
星
|
|
hoshi
|
|
star
|
森
|
|
mori
|
|
forest
|
山
|
|
yama
|
|
mountain
|
富士山
|
|
fujisan
|
|
Mt. Fuji
|
木
|
|
ki
|
|
tree
|
花
|
|
hana
|
|
flower
|
桜
|
|
sakura
|
|
cherry blossom
|
自然
|
|
shizen
|
|
nature
|
Animals etc
| 犬 |
inu |
|
dog
|
猫
|
neko |
|
cat |
魚
|
sakana |
|
fish |
馬
|
uma |
|
horse |
虎
|
tora
|
|
tiger
|
龍
|
ryuu |
|
dragon (complex) |
竜
|
ryuu
|
|
dragon (simple) |
Links
If you want to read more about kanji for tatoos, follow any of these links.
- http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/kanji001.html
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