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.

• いれずみ = tattoo
• やくざ = japanese mafia
• 居酒屋 / いざかや = japanese pub
• 銭湯 / せんとう = bath-house, public bath

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

Near and Dear

Emotions and Spirituality

Martial Arts and History

Directions and Nature

Animals etc

Links

If you want to read more about kanji for tatoos, follow any of these links.

• http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/kanji001.html

Related posts:

1. Japanese Family Word List