Most Popular Japanese Tattoos – Tiger Tattoos, Dragon Tattoos & More

Tattoos are very popular in Japan, particularly with the younger generation. The art is so amazing that it's spreading all around the world, and many Westerners are now getting Japanese tattoos as well. Traditionally, elaborate Japanese tattoos (irezumi) would take many months or even years to complete. These day, they can be completed in no time at all. Still, there are master artists who still give irezumi the old fashioned way---with handmade tools rather than electric guns.

Some of the most popular Japanese tattoos include names, animals, and mythical creatures such as phoenixes and dragons. There are so many different types of dragon designs, and each has its own symbolism and meaning. In Japanese folklore, dragons can represent anything from evil to peace or from prosperity to bravery. Some art even depicts dragons surrounded by beautiful things, such as clouds, flowers, and gardens.

There are countless possibilities with Japanese dragon tattoos. They can be drawn in a number of different ways in a variety of different settings. They can be simple or elaborate, fierce looking or beautiful. When drawn in water, dragons usually symbolize peace. When drawn in a fiery setting, surrounded by flames, dragons can represent the brave spirit of a warrior.

While dragons are the most popular mythical creature commonly found in Japanese art, tigers are one of the most popular animals. Just like dragons, tigers can be depicted in a number of different ways as well. In the Eastern world, tigers are considered to be the Kings of animals, just as lions are in Africa. According to some Japanese myths, tigers are said to punish the evil. Statues and images of this magnificent beast have been used to bring good luck and protection from evil spirits.

Although tattoos weren't always accepted by the samurai, they still kept emblems of tigers. The symbolism behind this great cat can represent power, might, courage, pride, and even violence. Tribal tattoos feature tigers are quite popular, although some people only get them because they're trendy and don't understand the meaning behind the designs at all.

Both dragons and tigers can be combined with other images to form tattoos. Some individuals even choose to get a tattoo featuring both creatures! A lot of women prefer tiger tattoos featured with flowers such as, well, what else but tiger lilies?! Butterflies and cherry blossoms look especially lovely with white tiger designs.

One combination many people are interested in includes either of the two creatures along with their name written in Japanese script. Names in Japanese can be written with Hiragana and Katakana phonetic scripts. On the internet, there are directories of thousands of different names written as Japanese characters. Anyone interested in getting a Japanese name tattoo can search the web for ideas. As for Kanji, the characters are all actually symbols of things, places, and emotions. All three of the scripts can be combined together to form a creative tattoo.