The Best Colors for a Japanese Traditional Tattoo
Table of Contents
What is a Japanese Traditional tattoo?
Japanese traditional tattoos are one of the original forms and styles of tattoo. In fact, it is estimated that this style of tattoo originating over 5,000 years ago. Since then, the meaning and associations of Japanese traditional tattoos has changed greatly, especially in Japan. What was once seen as an expressive tradition, Japanese tattoos in Japan began to take on other meanings, usually associated with organized crime. Today, there remains a stigma around tattoos in Japan, but the tradition of tattooing continues to gain popularity in many other regions of the world, including the United States.
While the cultural significance of Japanese traditional tattoos has changed over the centuries, the imagery, color, and final product has largely remained the same even with advancements in tattoo technology. In this guide, we will briefly touch upon the popular subjects of a Japanese traditional tattoo as well as the best colors to have the piece done with. After, we will touch upon a few locations where one could search for inspiration for your very own Japanese traditional tattoo!
Best Imagery for Japanese Traditional
Before exploring the best colors for a Japanese traditional tattoo, let’s quickly list some of the popular imagery found in a Japanese traditional tattoo.
Masks
There are a variety of traditional Japanese face masks that can be selected from, each with their own associations. The list of popular masks include Oni, Tengu, Okina, Hyottoko, and Saru. Each of these masks is unique in appearance and meaning, usually equipped with their own colors.
Animals
There are a variety of animals that are popular for a Japanese traditional piece including both real and fantasy creatures. Among the most popular and widely seen are dragons, tigers, and koi fish. Each creature comes with their own meanings, especially when paired with the right color.
Deities
There are plenty of traditional Japanese characters that hold a large significance that also make for great tattoos. This list includes Karura, Baku, and Daikoku amongst quite a few others. The characters hold with them a tremendous amount of cultural significance.
