Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

A lot of guys out there these days are looking for something unique and fresh looking. Often different men get skulls, flames and sexy pinup girls as a sleeve tattoo design. However, recently there have been more and more men interested in the Japanese manga tattoos. This is great because the Japanese have a long history of full-body tattoos and therefore are well advanced in art for sleeve tattoos. These designs are fresh and make a great tattoo design for women, too. Here are some ideas to help you get started on your own full-sleeve tattoo.

Koi Fish

Koi fish are a popular subject for tattoo designs. Imagine beautiful orange koi fish and blue water turned into the perfect tattoo design for a sleeve. A fish wrapped around the front of the arm of fish can really come to life.

A Koi tattoo represent strength, power and the struggle for individuality. It encourages one to go through life and strive to be better.

In myths, you see the Japanese koi fish is swimming and fighting its way upstream. Not all of them make it, of course, but those who do reach a bridge of gold and turn into dragons flying to the sky. Any man with a koi tattoo shows that they are deeply reflective and emotional, which can drive girls crazy. There is much you can elaborate from with this tattoo…

Image by bucaorg via Flickr

Dragons

Of course, there are many who seek out the dragon. In Japan, the popularity ofg the dragon design is second only to the koi fish. A fierce, powerful dragon in red and black makes for the ideal tattoo design for men. Rough and ready and breathing the fire reflects the personality of a dragon person. He is a very mystical, for this mythical beast that is filled with all sorts of magic and lore. Its symbolism is great, of course, denoting power and strength.

Samurai

Samurai and the gods are always very popular in traditional Japanese manga tattoos. These designs feature fierce samurai warriors in the heat of the battle with the gods or fighting evil spirits. What can be cooler than a man wielding a katana sword and killing a huge dragon or demon. The reason is tattoo so popular in Japan and its traditional art, is that the samurai represents everything that is important to an honorable man. The samurai of Japan is fierce warrior in battle, but still develops his mind and follows the spiritual code Bushido. This is what all Japanese men want to be in their souls….

Hannya Masks

The Hannya or demon mask was originally used in Kabuki theater in Tokyo. However, the masks were so beautiful, they have become unforgettable work of Japanese art. Many collect and display Hannya Masks in their homes as they believe the masks ward off evil spirits. The Hannya masked represents a scorned woman who has been overcome by rage that upon her death she becomes a revenging demon. These are also very popular in traditional Japanese tattoos. It maybe a bit difficult to make a full sleeve of a mask, but the base design can be easily combined with other Japanese designs and symbols.

These are just a few of the many ideas are used in traditional Japanese sleeve tattoos. They all work very well in a tattoo for men and are becoming very popular in the West. These designs have a deep symbolism behind them, yet they still look cool and great for men. If you are thinking about getting a Japanese sleeve tattoo then you will want to look for a tattoo artist that specializes in Japanese art, if possible.

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Small Japanese Hannya Demon Mask – Noh-Kyogen Kazarimen

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos Related Articles

• Hong Kong women shrug off tattoo taboo (telegraph.co.uk)

Devil Tattoos – Do You Really Want One?

Some people think that it is bad, if you get a tattoo. They think you are turning your body into a wall filled with graffiti. And if those tattoos include an image of the devil that really indicates that you have gone over to the dark side…

Devil tattoos don’t always have a sinister connotation and they certainly may not to you, but tattoos often reflect the current beliefs concerning what they are.

The Devil is commonly deemed a supernatural entity which embodies evil, usually sneaky evil. Religions in the West share this entity. Even the Muslims have a devil. The devil is known by other names such as Beelzebub and Satan. But in demon mythology each of these is a separate being. And they’re not necessarily evil. Sometimes the Devil myth tells of a Trickster. All of these are featured in various devil tattoos.

The most well known story of the devil comes from the Christian tradition. Back at the beginning times, the Archangel Lucifer was second only to God in heaven. All angels were considered equal, but nonetheless Lucifer, whose inner and outer beauty seemed to shine just a little brighter, was considered the best among equals.

The Demon Dictionary

Perhaps, because of this special attention Lucifer received, his pride grew, and Lucifer became jealous of God himself. Lucifer decided that he could do a better job of ruling Heaven. Lucifer recruited other angels in a revolt against God.

God, Michael, and the other Archangels and Angels that stayed loyal to God defeated Lucifer and his forces. Lucifer and his minions were cast out of heaven – becoming the fallen angels…

Many of these elements, broken angel wings, the fires of Hell, demons, fallen angles, Lucifer as Satan, the vast battle itself, are often depicted in Devil tattoos.

Where did the world “Devil” come from? A look into Old English finds the term deofol which most likely came from the Latin diabolus. Which no doubt was an adaptation of the Greek diabolos. The word means to slander across or to hurl slander. Many other English words related to hell or the devil derive from that same word path such as diabolic.

In some languages the word for angel eventually became their word for devil. But the devil is no longer an angel. While angels portray the ligtht, the Devil portrays the dark…

Devil tattoos often show diabolic elements.

Today, Devil tattoos have some generalized meanings. Someone who wears them maybe saying, “hey, I am a little evil,” or maybe even “a lot evil. ” Or they could just be mischievous or a little rough in their behavior. It’s not necessarily the mark of a criminal. It could be a symbol of rebellion – against parents or society at large. Still people choose a devil tattoo for a reason and one that usually reflects some part of their personality.

Devil tattoos do carry a bad reputation. Sometimes folks see them as an actual “mark of the devil.” In other words, someone with such a tattoo is a servant of the devil. Highly unlikely, but who knows?

If you are considering a “devil tattoo” give it some more thought. What could be innocent fun on your part, maybe deemed evil by those who see it. Maybe a butterfly, instead…?

The Most Popular Tattoo Designs

Getting a tattoo should not be about following the crowd, but this does not mean that it is unacceptable to get a popular tattoo. Some people like a familiar style of body art because it looks really good which will be why it is so popular. In this case, they should not be derided for following the crowd. They just happen to know what they want.

Perhaps the most popular tattoo design is the tribal mark. This kind of tattoo is the source of much controversy, with some people being of the opinion that a tribal tattoo on someone with at best a tenuous link to that tribe is a sign of cultural tourism. This often leads to debate between fans of ink. How Irish do you have to be to get a Celtic cross? How close does your Japanese ancestry need to be before you can get Japanese script drawn on you?

Another form of tattoo which has gained massive popularity is that of angel wings, or indeed any other form of wings. These can be drawn anywhere on the body, but are particularly popular when drawn on the back. The idea is that the bearer has wings sprouting out of their back and is ready to take flight. The tattoo symbolises freedom and elevation, popular themes with a link to escapism.

Fair enough, if someone simply gets a tattoo because they want attention then it is a little bit boring. But what cannot be denied is that the most popular designs keep getting chosen, regardless of anyone elses opinion.

The Teardrop Tattoo And Its Various Meanings

One of the most controversial parts of the tattoo world is that of the teardrop tattoo. This look is worn by a number of people, but is most commonly spoken about due to its connections with imprisonment. Even within the prison system, the teardrop tattoo has a number of meanings and if you have one, it is worth being careful about who you speak to because there can be confusion over what it means. Explaining it may work, but remember that if someone has been to prison they may well have been there for a reason and not be terribly impressed by your explanation.

Usually, at least outside the prison system, the teardrop tattoo is given to symbolise the loss of a person close to you. However, its prison meaning, and one that extends to the outside due to the presence of former prisoners in the community, will often be that the bearer has killed another person. More than one teardrop beneath your eye means more than one kill. Whether the teardrop is filled or not also affects its meaning. An empty tear can mean an unsuccessful attempted murder, or that a loved one has been murdered. A tear that is full at the bottom and empty at the top means that the death of a loved one has been avenged.

For such reasons as listed above, it is perhaps unwise to get a teardrop tattoo underneath ones eye. Additionally, it is particularly unwise to get one in Australia, as this kind of tattoo is often forcibly given by other inmates to convicted child molesters.

A Permanent Reminder of Your Love

It is not at all uncommon for people to commemorate their love for a boyfriend or girlfriend, wife or husband by getting a tattoo with their name on it. However it has to be remembered when considering such a tattoo that while love can fade and relationships end free of charge, removing a tattoo takes time, and often a lot of expensive surgery and even then traces can be left, causing any number of problems and possibly making you rethink your entire outlook on tattoos.

There are many different ways to go about demonstrating your love in ink. By far the most obvious and indeed the most common is to get the name of your love tattooed somewhere prominent. David Beckham for example has his wife Victorias name tattooed on his arm mis-spelt and in Hindi, incidentally and this may be part of the reason why they have stayed together for so long despite trials and tribulations.

Johnny Depp was not so lucky, having got the phrase Winona Forever tattooed on his right bicep during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder. Their relationship ended, so Depp, a keen wine enthusiast, had it amended to Wino Forever possibly placating his present wife Vanessa Paradis.

Then there is the troubled British singer Amy Winehouse, who has a tattoo on her chest over her heart, of a button pocket with the legend Blakes above it, symbolizing that her heart belongs to Blake Civil-Fielder who she married in May 2007. Their divorce came through in July 2009, and she hasnt yet had time to change it.

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