Japanese Tattoo Letters

Japanese Tattoo Letters

Tattoo Lettering

Over the centuries people have used pictures to display their intentions for all to see; however, as with every new era, a new phenomenon is emerging in the form of tattoo lettering. Italic tattoo lettering is one of hundreds of font styles for you to choose from. However the italic font is one that shows off the most class and is an absolutely beautiful way to express yourself.

A popular, yet personal, way that many people choose to incorporate lettering into a tattoo is to have it within or accompanying a picture tattoo. In that way you can feature the best of both worlds in one tattoo and still keep the personal meaning you want.

While the most popular and commonly thought of color to use is black, do not limit yourself. Try your favorite color or a mixture of colors, even a rainbow within the text, to give your italic tattoo lettering a higher sense of creativity, uniqueness and personality. After all, your tattoo will speak about you and for you for the rest of your life.

Choosing what text to ink on your body is probably the second most important thing to consider when deciding on getting italic tattoo lettering, the first being the font itself. You want something that is meaningful and uniquely yours, yet at the same time you probably do not want atattoo that will either upset or throw people for a loop when trying to figure out what it means and then why you chose it. That is, of course, unless that is your intention.

Another thing you should put under high consideration is where to put your italic tattoo lettering. Many people, men and women alike, are opting to have it inked on their backs. The main reason being is that your back is the largest and most flat area of your body, which makes it a great blank canvas for many different tattoos, especially those that are larger or contain phrases. Women seem to find that putting italictattoo lettering on their lower backs adds a bit of sex appeal, while men seem to use their entire back for such displays.

Either way you go, it is sure to be a great piece that you will treasure for the rest of your life. Whether you want to have your name, your child's name (or your children's names), your zodiac sign, your pet's name, your favorite phrase or anything else you can think of, italic tattoo lettering is the perfect solution for just about everything.

Remember to put some thought into where you want to put your italic tattoo lettering since that will be a permanent mark for years to come; and, of course, do not forget to be creative in the color or colors you choose. You want to make this something that is yours and yours alone. No matter what you choose to write and where you choose to write it, it is sure to be a striking piece of art that everyone will enjoy.

Japanese Tattoo Lettering

In Japan, tattooing and tattoo lettering began primarily as an expression of spirituality. From approximately 300 BC to 300 AD, a Japanese tattoo always conveyed a certain religious meaning for its bearer, and also served as a decorative status symbol.

During this period, tattooing was meticulously practiced and highly regarded. For the tattoo artists, tattooing was not just an occupation, but a way of life. For instance, aspiring apprentices had to train under masters for many years before becoming credible and acknowledged tattoo artists, which are called "horis" in Japan. Only a horis was allowed to create full body suit tattoos.

All that changed when the government began to etch tattoos on criminals as a means of punishment. During the Meiji era, the Japanese government outlawed tattooing and forced artists to practice underground. It was legalized again in 1945, but until now, Japanese tattoos have never completely shaken off the negative association with common felons and the Yakuza, Japan's longstanding infamous mafia. Consequently, people sporting tattoos are known to be banned in many public baths and massage parlors by apprehensive business owners. Despite all this, Japanese tattoos continue to gain popularity domestically and worldwide because of the outstanding artistry of the designs and the deep mystical symbolism inherent to them.