Japanese Tattoo

What is Japanese tattooing?

Japanese tattooing, known as Irezumi (入れ墨, literally 'inserting ink'), is one of the world's oldest and most respected tattoo traditions. It uses bold black outlines, a specific colour palette (deep blacks, rich reds, greens, blues, and yellows), and a codified iconography drawn from Japanese mythology, nature, and folklore. The compositions are designed to flow with the body's natural curves, a sleeve reads differently when the arm is extended vs. relaxed.

History & Origins

Irezumi has existed in Japan for over a thousand years, with roots in spiritual and decorative practice. During the Edo period (1603-1868), tattooing became associated with the working class and later criminalised by the Meiji government. It survived underground, carried by firemen, merchants, and eventually yakuza. In the 20th century, Western artists began adopting and adapting the style. Today, traditional Japanese tattooing coexists with neo-Japanese and contemporary interpretations worldwide.

Technique

Traditional Irezumi was done by hand using a tebori technique, a wooden handle with needles attached, worked in a rhythmic jabbing motion. Modern Japanese tattooers predominantly use machines, but many traditionalists still practise tebori. The style uses bold outlining first (always black), then colour fill built in layers. Background elements (waves, wind bars, clouds, flowers) fill negative space. Compositions are planned holistically for the body area.

Japanese by the numbers

TatScout currently tracks 300 studios offering japanese work, holding an average rating of 4.9★ across 294 rated studios and 199,614 total reviews. The deepest pools of japanese specialists are in Indianapolis, Phuket, Ghent and Athens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related styles

Traditional

Neo-Traditional