I've been working on Japanese-style tattoos (or Irezumi) for a while, having started them when I was at this tattoo shop in Shibuya about 10 years ago. What I like about the style is that it's so dramatic looking and that it looks good anywhere on your body, even on your hands. That's why I usually tell clients to go for hand tattoos if they want to experiment with a Japanese-style piece that isn't too large.
What's also nice is that although the hand is small, there's enough space to add a bunch of different design elements to your tattoo. Like Hannya masks, tigers, dragons, and much more.
In this article, I will be running through these different Japanese-style hand tattoos and their meanings.
Here are all the best Japanese hand tattoos.
The Hannya mask is an important motif, symbolizing both rage and intense emotion. The mask originates from a Noh theatre play called Aoi no Ue where the actor had it on to signify being possessed by a demon. The mask isn't that detailed so it can easily fit inside a hand.
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In Japanese culture, Yokai are spirits with magical powers that can either be good or evil spirits. If you are someone who's a bit more spiritual but also is a fan of folklore, you can definitely make a yokai the star of your Japanese hand tattoo.
Since there are quite a few yokai out there, it can be hard to pick one. But I recently did this Kitsune or fox spirit sleeping on a client's hand and thought it looked really cute, so maybe you can go this route for your body art too.
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Just like in other cultures, dragons are also seen as these mighty beasts in Japan. However, they're also seen as quite smart, so you can tie this symbolism into your tattoo to represent inner wisdom in yourself.
I've done a few dragon hand tattoos before, and my biggest piece of advice is to not try and do the whole dragon, as you're not working with much space. Instead, just do its face, and try to go as detailed with it to really let it shine.
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When I think of spring, I always think of cherry blossoms in bloom. You can always get one and make it the star of your Japanese hand tattoo to represent a change in your life. But I also like doing them on clients because of how much of a pretty motif they are - they'll add a sense of elegance to your tattoo.
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Speaking of flowers, you can also do a peony hand tattoo. Peonies are major symbols in Japan for good luck and prosperity, so they'd be a good tattoo idea if you want to bring a bit of fortune into your life. Of course, they look beautiful too, so you'd have a graceful-looking tattoo design.
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Tigers are these mighty animals, making them good inclusions to Japanese hand tattoos if you want to represent a sense of courage and bravery. Tigers are also symbols of protection, meaning you'd have a tattoo that can ward off bad energy while also symbolizing your brave heart.
In a couple of myths around revolving tigers, they were also known to hide gold coins in caves, so you can tie this element in and add a few coins in the background when getting tattooed.
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Japanese tattoos are called Irezumi, and they're this distinctive tattoo style that goes back all the way to 300-500 BC. It uses dramatic color and bold lines, almost exclusively relying on Japanese cultural motifs too, like cherry blossoms, tigers, yokai, and peonies.
Although anyone can get Japanese hand tattoos, it's important to keep in mind cultural appropriation first. So, I'd advise you to do your research before mixing different Japanese cultural motifs.
All in all, I hope you found my ultimate guide useful. It ran through a bunch of different hand tattoos that you can go for, and also their different meanings. Hopefully, you will be getting at least one of them for your next tattoo session - just keep in mind what I mentioned about cultural appropriation with the tattoos, and working with the right person for the job.
