Japanese tattoos have an ancient tradition, but their connotation has almost always been associated with the criminal world. They were in fact used to mark criminals for life. The famous Yakuza drew from the tradition of tattoo making a real signature, so that even today, many public places prohibit the entry of tattooed people. Only a few years ago that the traditional Japanese tattoo (irezumi) found its definitive consecration breaking through the boundaries of the country and flooding around the world.

The subjects used range from animals, mythological demons, the koi carp and, for those who wear them, they become a sort of reminder of their life aspirations. A tattoo irezumi represents a long and painful process, it is made only by a selected few teachers who still use traditional tools to achieve them. It was made famous by the meticulous perfection and their precise patterns: the dragon is depicted together with the chrysanthemum, the lion along with the peony, hannya masks along with snakes and Buddhist symbols.


Arm Japanese Carp Koi Sleeve tattoo by 1969 Tattoo
Shoulder Japanese Tiger tattoo by Artistic Tattoo
Shoulder Arm Japanese Carp Dragon tattoo by Artistic Tattoo
Shoulder Arm Japanese Carp Koi tattoo by Artistic Tattoo
Snake Japanese Back Monster tattoo by Dimitri Tattoo
Arm Japanese Back Samurai Wave tattoo by Ethno Tattoo
Side Japanese Carp Koi tattoo by Bloody Blue Tattoo
Arm Japanese Carp tattoo by Adrenaline Vancity
Arm Japanese Buddha Carp Koi tattoo by Fat Foogo
Arm Snake Japanese Tiger tattoo by Plan9 Ealing
Arm Portrait Japanese tattoo by Plan9 Ealing
Arm Lettering Japanese tattoo by Plan9 Ealing
Japanese Back Samurai tattoo by Ten Ten Tattoo
Japanese Back Samurai Dragon tattoo by Ten Ten Tattoo
Arm Japanese Samurai Dragon Sleeve tattoo by Ten Ten Tattoo
Shoulder Arm Japanese Carp Koi tattoo by Ten Ten Tattoo
Arm Japanese Tiger tattoo by Ten Ten Tattoo
Flower Japanese Thigh tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Carp Thigh tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Shoulder Japanese Carp Dragon Sleeve tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Shoulder Japanese Samurai Dragon Sleeve tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Tiger Sleeve tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Side Japanese Mask Demon tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Dog Body tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Back Tiger tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Back Dragon tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Back Tiger Dragon Body tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Shoulder Arm Japanese Carp Koi tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Arm Japanese Carp Koi tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Arm Japanese Geisha tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Arm Japanese Dragon tattoo by Invisible Nyc
Japanese Back Samurai tattoo by Electric Anvil Tattoo
Japanese Back Dragon tattoo by Electric Anvil Tattoo
Arm Snake Japanese tattoo by Electric Anvil Tattoo
Snake Japanese Sleeve tattoo by Kings Avenue Tattoo
Japanese Mask Demon Sleeve tattoo by Kings Avenue Tattoo
Snake Japanese Belly Body tattoo by Kings Avenue Tattoo
Snake Japanese Back Demon Butt Body tattoo by Kings Avenue Tattoo
Arm Japanese Mask tattoo by Kings Avenue Tattoo
Japanese Dragon Sleeve tattoo by Logia Barcelona
Japanese Mask Neck Demon tattoo by Logia Barcelona
Arm Portrait Japanese Geisha tattoo by Bang Bang

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