Who Are Some Famous People With Japanese Tattoos?

Japanese tattoos are very expressive. They can be anything from dragons to koi fish and from tigers to flowers. They can be Kanji characters or letters. Not only are many Japanese people getting such artistic tattoos, but people from all over of the world are as well. This is because Japanese art is very meaningful, and even something as simple as a letter, number, or flower can have a lot of symbolism surrounding it. An increasing number of tattoo artists are learning how to draw images based on Japanese culture. Due to the fact that the entire world is fascinated by the imagery and art, it's not surprising that so many people are interested in Japanese tattoos.

Celebrities, it seems, are getting Japanese tattoos as well. In fact, some of the most well known historical figures had Japanese tattoos, including King George V, King Oscar of Sweden, the Russian Grand Duke Alexis, and others. It's also rumored that even Winston Churchill's mother had one! It seems that the beauty of Japanese tattoo art has spread wide and far over the last couple of centuries. The fact that they actually banned in Japan for a short time before WW 2 is somewhat hard to imagine.

The popularity only continued to grow over the decades, and now many current celebrities have Japanese tattoos as well. Britney Spears, for example, has two Kanji symbols. One, on her foot, represents “freedom”, and it's surrounded by vines and a butterfly to indicate that she is as “free as a butterfly”. Another, on her hip, means “strange”, although she seems to believe that it means “mysterious”.

Janet Jackson has a Kanji tattooed on her back that symbolizes continuity and friendship. Two of her backup dancers, who she considers to be good friends, have the same tattoo. Pink, Kelis, and Missy Eliott are three more singers with Kanji tattoos. The symbols on Pink's ankle and foot represent “happiness” and “luck”. Kelis has a Kanji symbol on her calf as well as a Japanese inspired design on her back. Missy Eliott has a band of Kanji symbols tattooed around her ankle.

Actress Alyson Hannigan, like Pink, has the symbols for “luck” and “happiness” tattooed on her. Another former Buffy star, David Boreanaz, has the Kanji symbols for “soul” and “destiny” on the insides of his wrists. His wife has matching tattoos. The former Buffy star herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, also has a Kanji tattoo as well as a Japanese cherry blossom design.