Cool Japanese Shirt Sleeve Tattoo Design

For men, it is important to have a tattoo that is unique, different, at the same time cool. More popular designs include dragons, flames and skulls for sleeve tattoo designs. If you want something a little more different, don't go to these generic and common tattoo subjects! Why won't you get yourself a Japanese sleeve tattoo instead?

Here are some popular subjects of Japanese shirt sleeve tattoo designs:

Koi fish - Koi fish are beautiful and vibrant. They look great for sleeve tattoo designs! The contrasting vibrant oranges and deep blue water hues are perfect. Make your Koi fish tattoo three dimensional and with color... this way, it will really feel like the fish is about to pop out from your skin!

Dragons - Japanese dragons sometimes look more fierce and vicious than their European counterparts. You can have a fierce dragon tattooed black or red in your sleeve. Dragons are mystical, magical, and the perfect symbol of strength and power.

Samurai warriors - Samurais are exclusive to the Japanese culture. Samurais are very popular in Japanese tattoo art and traditional art. They symbolize courage, strength and honor too. You can have a samurai tattooed on your sleeve, in honor of the beautiful Japanese culture.

Japanese Koi Fish Sleeve Tattoos Designs

Not only one of the very beautiful and sexy tattoo designs, Koi Fish Tattoo is also full of deep, rich and meaningful history. If you don't know, Koi is a Japanese word for Wild Carp which is a fresh water fish which is famously treasured by the Japanese who maintain their love and respect for the fish for thousands of years.

There was a Japanese legend about Koi fish that if a Koi successfully climb the fall on the Yellow River at the Dragon Gate, it will transform into a dragon. For that reason, the Koi symbolizes the strength, courage, determination to overcome obstacles and ability to obtain higher goals in life. Other say it means good fortune or luck.

There are many different opinions, though, to the symbol of the Koi Fish Tattoo. Some people feel that there is a sexual symbolism to the color and the direction of the Koi swim. There are also sources that said Koi is a symbolism of family where a black Koi represent the father; orange/red is mother; blue/white is for boys; and red/pink is for girls. For me it's a great choice of tattoo for both men and women because not only it gives a perfect shape on the arm, koi fish tattoos are popular for the deep history and symbolism behind them.

The Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Design

If you are looking for some of the most popular tattoo designs on the "net", the Japanese Koi fish tattoo is included with a number of the other top choices. This tattoo design is associated to the Zen and stands for Good Luck. The Japanese depict an equivalent linking to the Koi fish and a Samurai Warrior because they both characterize bravery, the capability to reach high levels of achievement and the ability to pick yourself up from life's problems. Rather than running off and having a Japanese Koi fish tattoo you should remember several factors as well as the tattoo color and its place on your body.

As you ultimately go to the tattoo shop for your Koi fish concept you must maintain an unmistakable outlook on the color pattern you would like the tattoo to be in. A highly trendy color plot is the infamous Yen Yang tattoo of black and white. For several individuals this long time display is a way too boring and tame display and they would like to go for a different, more exciting display.

It's probably a good idea to pick a color design with the intention of adding to your body complexion. As a example, if you have a lighter complexion it may be even more smarter to get a gold or yellow design. Different shades that could succeed depending on your flesh tone are white, orange, purple and red and you could learn that one of these could be the paramount color choice for your Japanese Koi fish tattoo design.

Hot Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos Designs

Koi fish tattoos are quickly growing in popularity. In fact many traditional Japanese tattoo designs are coming to life with new vivid tattoo ink colors. This is a rapidly growing movement very similar to the west coast tattoo style. The west coast tattoo style started with the idea of taking older classic tattoo themes like anchors, hearts and etc and adding a ton of bright, and beautiful inks to them. A few years back the west coast tattoo style was about the hottest thing in tattoos.

However many people are not satisfied to stick with what everyone else has already done and most people that get tattoos want them to be unique and different. Therefore tattoo artists are always on the look out for new designs, new ideas and new ways to take their art to the next level. This constant pushing of the envelope develops many hot new trends in tattoo design.

In the past 5 or so years there has been a rebirth or revitalization of traditional Japanese tattoos. One of the hottest themes in Japanese tattoos has been koi fish tattoos.

Japanese Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Japanese sleeve tattoos with its rich and intricate details combined with bright colors are extremely popular among tat enthusiasts. It's becoming a mainstream and are not only getting attention from the males but with females as well. Being very exquisite and decorative, tattooing this theme can take a lot of time, even multiple session thus it can be expensive. However, the idea of sporting an aesthetically pleasing tattoo art on your arm can be really rewarding making it so much worth in the end.

When contemplating on getting Japanese sleeve tattoos, you have two options to choose from - half sleeve or full sleeve designs. Half sleeve tattoos start from the upper arm and end near the elbows while full sleeve covers the entire arm. Normally, a full sleeve is a product of something that started out as just a half-sleeve body art and then is extended later on with complimentary designs to make it a full sleeve ink. The arm is the body part involved in this process and it is such a great canvas to work on because its shape makes way for artistic flow of various tattoo arts.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Designs

When it comes to favorites with tattoos the Japanese Koi fish tattoo design is a leader. both in beauty and popularity. This design represents Zen and symbolizes 'Good Luck'. The Japanese draw a parallel between the Koi fish and a Samurai Warrior as they both represent courage, the ability to attain high goals and to overcome life's difficulties. Before rushing off and getting a Japanese Koi fish tattoo you need to consider many factors including the tattoo color, its location on your body and of course any complimentary inclusions.

Kanji Tattoos - How To Pick A Kanji Tattoo

In Japan, three writing systems are used. Kanji is the oldest among these and using this script whilst making a tattoo is a popular choice among many who wish to get inked. The thing to keep in mind is that you should be sure about the meaning of the tattoo that you use.

First of all decide on the meaning of your tattoo. Kanji is a foreign language and this should be kept in mind that not all translations carry the same meaning that you intend to send. You may want the name of your loved one, or something that represents something that matters to you like Patience, Serenity, Loyalty, Strength or Love.

Instead of depending on the tattoo designer to interpret the language for you in order to use it as a design on your body, do the research yourself as many of these designers may not use authentic translation books. Therefore consult a true speaker of the language itself to avoid any wrong translation.

Seek the internet for popular phrases or symbols in Kanji that you can use for your tattoos. There are also translation tools on the net so you can search for a word multiple times on different websites in order to find the most accurate.

Books are useful references when it comes to research on Kanji related symbols or words. Using then will enhance your research and will allow you to compare the symbols with the more popular ones that have been used often. The books can be found in the library or at some tattoo shops if they have one.

Refer to someone who knows the language fluently and one who can translate your desired word for you. If you do not know someone, then visit the language department of some college who can assist you with the Kanji language and translate it for you.

One can also pay for the service of translating the words into Kanji. There are many translator services available but they of course require a fee to translate your words. Although such services require money, it is better to be accurate with your tattoo rather than use an incorrectly translated design on your body.  Valerie Althorpe

Dragon Tattoos for Women

Dragon tattoos have been popular for a long time due to the mystical features associated with them. Though they are some of the favorite tattoos among men, these days, even women are opting for these dragon tattoo designs. Read to know more about dragon tattoos for women...

A dragon tattoo is known to be more common in men than in women. But recently, they have become some of the most popular tattoo choices among girls also. Dragon tattoo, along with some feminine designs like cherry blossom, blend well on a woman's body. These tattoos have even won the heart of female celebrities, like Angelina Jolie. She is a great fan of tattooing, has almost a dozen tattoos on her body. Her upper left arm bears a dragon tattoo. Before moving on to know more about dragon tattoo for women, let us take a look at a brief information on dragon tattoos.

Dragon Tattoo

A dragon is a serpent or a reptile like creature, that is said to bear some spiritual powers. This creature has scary looks with its scaled body, clawed feet, large wings, all with a power of emitting fire from the mouth. The concept or the meaning of dragon is different in the Eastern and Western hemisphere. People living in the east believe dragon to be a protector of the mass, while those who belong to the west consider a dragon to be an evil spirit. The Eastern dragon is worshiped by the people and is considered as the savior, friendly creature and is a symbol of good fortune. These dragons do not have wings and have long slender bodies. Among the Eastern dragons, Chinese and Japanese dragons are well known for their artistic designs and beautiful colors. Western dragons are believed to bear negative powers. It is said that these tattoos used to destroy villages with their fire breathing powers and were a curse to humanity.

Dragon Tattoos for Women

Among all the dragon tattoo designs, Chinese and Japanese dragon tattoos have gained more popularity. There are a variety of dragon designs that belong to this group and each of the dragon has a specific meaning associated with it. Thus, one has a wide array of dragon tattoo ideas to choose from. A brief information on both these dragon tattoos for girls is given below.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo: A dragon has a very significant place in Japanese mythology and is considered to be a god of water. These dragon tattoos symbolize, protection, longevity and power. There are different types of Japanese dragons, that include, Ka-Riu (red dragon, small in size), Sui-Riu (a dragon that has control over rain), Fuku-Riu (dragon of luck), Han-Riu (largest dragon), etc. These dragons are characterized by features like, serpentine look, tiger like paws, long whiskers, scaly body, no wings, etc. Even the colors that are used for these tattoos have typical meanings, related to the parents of the tattoo bearer. For example, if the dragon tattoo has been carved with black color, then it says, that the parents of the tattoo bearer are wise and old, while gold colored dragon tattoo represents features of wisdom, strength and compassion. Read more on Japanese tattoo for women and Japanese tattoos and their meanings.

Chinese Dragon Tattoo: Dragons have always represented power and mystery in China and are known as Lung. Chinese dragons symbolize the features of health, harmony, intelligence, good luck, etc. Snake like looks, scaly body, no wings, clawed legs, etc., are some of the physical features of the Chinese dragon tattoo. Similar to Japanese tattoo, even Chinese dragon tattoos have several meanings related to them. Tien-lung is a celestial dragon which protects the God, while a yellow dragon is known for its intelligence and is hornless. Shen-lung is a spiritual dragon and is believed to control the rain and wind. Ti-luns which is an Earth dragon, controls water and rivers on Earth and the Fut's lung is an underworld dragon, which protects gems and precious metals.

Choosing a dragon tattoo can be a daunting task, due to so many meanings and designs associated with them. One more important thing that should be kept in mid while choosing the dragon tattoo is, the placement of the dragon tattoo. For women, dragon tattoos look good on back and arms. Dragon tattoos require a very large canvas to complete the dragon design. Hence, back makes a good place for dragon tattoo. While choosing the placement, one should keep in mind that the dragon tattoo is given full justice to its design.

This was some brief information on dragon tattoos for women. So, if you want to get a dragon tattoo, ensure that you make a good research of all the dragon tattoo designs and choose the one, that will symbolize your character. Happy Tattooing!  By Mayuri Kulkarni

6 Types Of Japanese Dragon Tattoos To Consider

With its origin among the mythical folklores the Japanese dragon tattoo is a feast to the eyes of all tattoo buffs. Apart from the stunning beauty of these types of tattoos the mystical appearance of a dragon, which is symbolic of prosperity, represents good luck and source of wealth. The Japanese dragons represent the iconic symbol of fearlessness and freedom, both of which are very charismatic and attractive qualities.

Like the Biblical angels the Japanese dragon also carries the symbol of guardian ship. It provides a protective force over all those you is associated with it. Another meaning of the Japanese dragon in Japan is power and strength over the vanquished. It carries the symbol of supernatural power and wisdom in the Japanese society.

The colour assigned to a particular dragon has special meaning. The colour of this mythical creature depends on its parents. For example Green dragons are average and small and represent life and the earth. The black ones signify old age and wisdom. A yellow dragon represents the direction east while the Blue dragon represents west. The Golden dragon which is considered to the King of all dragons represents kindness, wisdom and prowess against all imminent dangers.

Finding the right dragon tattoos for you may be quite a daunting and uphill task. It's best to check free dragon tattoo sites on the net to get an idea of which one shall best represent your needs and correlate with your personality.

A small tip to follow in regards to these dragon tattoos is that it is advisable not to ink a dragon tattoo in an immediately visible area of your skin if you are worried about its exposure in a work environment. As dragon tattoos are very colourful, they often fade away once they are exposed to too much of sunlight.

In this article we shall inform you of the basic six forms of Japanese dragons which may help to select your dragon tattoos.

1. Sui-Riu is the king Dragon is the one who controls the natural forces.

2. Han-Riu the stripped dragon is the biggest dragon in its race.

3. Ri-Riu dragons are a rare breed and have amazing eye sight.

4. Ka-Riu is a brilliant bright red dragon but is a petite compared to the others.

5. Fuku-Riu is the dragon that brings luck and is often found in most of the dragon tattoos.

6. Hai-Riyo is a dragon bird and the most highly evolved dragon in its species. It's mythological land of origin lies in the main land of China and is often known as the Chinese dragon by the Japanese people.

BONUS TIP: While it is not necessary to have dragon tattoos that have meaning or history, you will want to take a considerable amount of time looking at pictures and possibly learning how to make your own tattoo. Remember that a tattoo is permanent so you must be happy with what you get.  Christine Crotts

Japanese Tattoos for Women

Japanese tattoos for women are experiencing a revival, because of the simple and beautiful designs of Japanese tattoos. However, the origin of Japanese tattoos for women was not something, you may have known about. Scroll down below to find more information on Japanese tattoos for women.

 

 The art of Japanese tattoos has existed for thousands of years. There are many beautiful designs and tattoo themes, which have evolved over a period of time. In the olden times, Japanese tattoo art was associated with Yakuza, however times have now changed. Before we actually turn towards Japanese tattoos for women, we must go back in time and know about Japanese tattoo history.

History of Japanese Tattoos

Although tattoos have existed in Japan for a very long time, it was not until recent years that tattoos in Japan really became popular. In the days of the Samurais, criminals were branded with the help of tattoos. This trend also continued to exist when the team members of the Japanese mafia gangs chose to tattoo themselves, to display their chosen lifestyle.

We have just seen the history of tattoos among men in Japan, now let's see the history of Japanese women tattoos. This art was first accepted by the geisha girls and prostitutes in Japan. They adorned their bodies with these tattoos and used them to attract customers by flaunting their beautifully tattooed bodies. Till recent times, women in Japan were averse to getting themselves tattooed. However, now with the influence of the west, the mindset is changing and women are getting tattoos made. Read more about tattoo history.

Japanese Tattoos for Women

Usually women are smaller and delicately built. Hence, the tattoos for women are smaller in size and are also delicately made. Feminine tattoos are usually isolated in one or two spots of the body. Women tattoos are not as aggressive, compared to the men tattoos. This is however not a rule. Now let's know some Japanese tattoo designs for women.

Japanese kanji tattoos have become very popular. The kanji characters are very intricate and have some kind of mysticism attached to them, due to which they seem perfect for tattoo designs. What sets the kanji characters apart, is the fact that each kanji symbol is an ideographic character. In simple words, it means that a kanji character represents an entire object or meaning or symbol. When these kanji characters are made, care has to be taken, that each stroke is in the right direction and order. The most common words which are depicted using the kanji characters are love, peace, freedom and unity. Some people also choose to ink the name of their loved one in the kanji script. Apart from kanji tattoos, women also like the cursive way of writing in the hiragana script of the Japanese language. If you prefer something simple, you can opt for the simple katakana characters.

 The Japanese are passionate about cherry blossoms, called Sakura in Japanese. These flowers symbolize life itself. They portray how fragile but beautiful, life is. In the ancient times, Samurais would write poems about the cherry blossoms depicting their bravery and 'ready to die at any minute' nature. To sum it up, cherry blossoms denoted beauty at its best, along with living life to the fullest each and very moment.

The symbol of perseverance and spiritual struggle in Japan is depicted using the Koi fish. The koi fish are seen as individualistic fighters because of the myth that they had reached the doors of the heaven by swimming upstream. The Koi fish tattoo design has a golden and orange color, and is accompanied with a picture of splashing water to make it a beautiful design.

Geisha tattoos are also very famous. The geisha girls are considered to be talented women and they were said to be trained in martial arts. If the need be, these geisha women could protect their homes from intruders. If you want to have a strong female image, then a geisha tattoo meets your requirement. For further reading, read on Japanese tattoos and their meanings.

If you are planning to get Japanese tattoos for women made, you can combine a number of tattoo designs together. The world of tattoo designs is enticing. However, if you are looking for a pure Japanese tattoo design, you will have to make sure what the kanji actually stands for, for a number of these characters have been distorted. By Bhakti Satalkar

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

Tattoos have long been a part of Japanese culture and koi fish tattoos are very popular as they represent many qualities. The popularity of koi fish tattoos has transcended the Japanese culture, with people all around the world sporting this design...

If you love tattoos you know that getting a meaningful tattoo is one of the best feelings ever, especially when someone acknowledges the art. The world we live in today is getting smaller and smaller with fashion trends spreading with great speed. Tattoos have recently garnered great publicity with a lot of celebrities showing off their designs at red carpet events. It is only natural that it has spread like wildfire to the general population. One of the popular designs that has surfaced recently is Japanese koi fish tattoos. Fish in the wild undergo a lot of hardship to reach their destination and this ability has given them a mythical status. They are also found in different colors making it a good choice for a tattoo design. If you planning to get a koi fish tattoo done, just make sure that you do it from a good artist, as the design is intricate.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Meaning

The koi fish resembles perseverance as it swims against the current to reach its final destination. Japanese mythology has a story which states that the koi fish swam up a waterfall and was then turned in to a dragon. It depicts the victory of good against all odds and represents conquering everyday life struggles. The fish is a symbol of strength and the ability to overcome obstacles in spite of all odds. The Japanese koi fish also represents wisdom and longevity to many and therefore has been adopted by many people across the world irrespective of the cultural background. Some people even get the tattoo as they feel it brings them luck; the koi tattoo meaning is mostly what attracts people to this design.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Designs

Red Koi Fish

The red koi fish represents love and strength, it is a masculine design and looks great when done on the back or the arm. You can showcase a red koi fish blowing multicolored bubbles to represent the different colors of life. Another way of depicting it is to have it fighting big waves as it journeys through the violent waters.

Flower and Fish

Inking a koi fish gracefully swimming between bright red and yellow color flowers underwater is a very eye catching design that you could get. You can also show a koi fish resting on lotus petals with its tail hanging in the water. If you are imaginative, ink the fish twisting itself around an anchor. Another way to showcase the fish is with a flower in its mouth as if it's offering it to the Gods.

Dragon and Fish

Legend has it that the koi fish turned in to a dragon when it completed its journey, so you can show the fish metamorphosing in to a dragon. One of the interesting designs is inking a half dragon half fish on your body. You could also show the koi fish at the bottom of a waterfall and the dragon peering down from the top of the fall.

Fish Pair

You can also have a tattoo with two koi fish swimming in opposite directions as if representing the two aspects of life, the good and the bad. One of the other things that you could try is the two fish jumping up side by side with their tails in the water. As the fish represents love, you could have the two koi fish kissing each other surrounded by underwater flowers.

The secret to a getting a good tattoo is finding the right artist and taking care of your tattoo to prevent the ink from fading. Since this is a permanent art form make sure you choose your design wisely along with the body part you want to get tattooed.   By Indrajit Deshmukh

Japanese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Meaning

The Japanese Dragon Tattoo is a very beautiful and colorful tattoo design and very symbolic, with its origins in myths and folklore. It is also very mystical, adding to the appeal of the Japanese dragon tattoo. Over the ages, from Egyptian times the dragon has represented good and also represented evil. However, the attraction of the Japanese dragon, apart from its stunning beauty is that it represents good luck and the source of wealth. The Japanese dragon also represents the meaning of freedom and being fearless, both very attractive qualities.

In the Greek language, dragon is sourced from draca, which means serpent.

Like the angel, the Japanese Dragon also has the meaning of guardianship, providing a protective force over those it was associated with. Other meanings associated with the Japanese dragon is strength and power. In Japanese culture the dragon is associated with supernatural powers, and amazing wisdom.

There are six forms of the Japanese Dragon. They are:

Sui-Riu is the king Dragon and is in control of the rain. Therefore in this day and age of drought he is all powerful!

Han-Riu has many stripes on his body and is up to forty feet in length. One of the biggest dragons.

Ri-Riu dragon is a rare breed that is not well understood. However, it is known that they have amazing eye sight.

Ka-Riu is a brilliant red color, and a petite dragon in comparison with the others.

Fuku-Riu is a favorite dragon of many people as it is the dragon of luck.

Hai-Riyo is known as the dragon bird, and the most advanced form of dragon. It evolved out of Chinese mythology.

The colors of the dragons have special significance, which are based on their parents. For example a dragon with a black color means their parents are very old and wise. Green dragons are smaller than average, but are representative of life and of the earth. Gold colored dragons are special because they have many special attributes such as wisdom, kindness and the ability to face challenges head on.

Yellow dragons represent the east. They are great companions when you need a hand, but can be self absorbed at times. Blue dragons are from the west. They are forgiving and compassionate, but on the negative side can be lazy and uncaring when it suits them.

Finding the right Japanese Tattoo Design for you can be quite daunting. Check out all the free sites on the net to get as many ideas as you can. Just remember that many other people have done the same thing to get ideas. For example, last month, over 41,000 people searched for dragon tattoo designs on Yahoo. Apparently, roughly 8 times that amount check out Google for the same search term. Then there is MSN and the other search engines. So a huge amount of people see the same free designs as you. If you want original Japanese Dragon tattoo designs, it is recommended that you check out books or other sources of tattoo designs that are not freely available. I have checked out three Japanese dragon tattoo galleries on the internet that have from 3,500 to 6000 different designs, so you will have no trouble finding what you want.  Graeme Wheeler