Japanese Tattoo Collection: Shoulder Tattoo Designs Gallery

Butterfly Shoulder Tattoo Design

Dragon Shoulder Tattoo Design

Face Shoulder Tattoo Design

Flower Shoulder Tattoo Design

Henna Shoulder Tattoo Design

Japanese Dragon Shoulder Tattoo Design

Japanese Shoulder Tattoo Design

Skull Shoulder Tattoo Design

Star Shoulder Tattoo Design

Tribal Shoulder Tattoo Design

Tattoorism: Dean's Samurai

Last Saturday, I posted some tattoos sent to us from Tammy in Texas. Her son Dean is also tattooed and, in a much bigger way. We'll let him explain:

My very first tattoo was done on my 18th birthday in 2005...[it is] a black dragon with kanji above it. About a year letter I had a koi fish done on my calf...both of these tattoos were just drawings I had found. In 2006 I started working on my rib piece and in 2007 I got together with John from A Different Drummer here in Wichita Falls (he is now at the Lawton, OK location), and the two of us collaborated on bringing the rib piece together. Once the drawing was to our satisfaction, it took a little over 2 months of 3-4 hour sittings weekly until the tattoo was complete. 16-plus hours and worth every minute!

In 2009 I decided it was time for an arm piece and went back to A Different Drummer and Tuan who was in Art Class with me in high school listened to what I wanted... and the arm piece came to life...this one was done in one day and took a little over 7 1/2 hours:

Both pieces are marvelously done.

Thanks to Dean for sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday! And a hearty thank you, as well, to Tammy, for being a cool mom, sharing her pride in her son's amazing body art!

Japanese Tattoo Collection | Learn the Fascinating History Behind Japanese Tattoo Symbols

The history behind Japanese tattoo designs is believed to have started around 5000 BC. Japanese men, women of young or old age used to tattoo themselves with some religious themes in that period. In Chinese tradition, tattooing was practiced to outcast someone or to punish a criminal, so it was new to the Chinese when they knew that the Japanese used tattooing for decorative purposes.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

Around the year of 700 AD, attitudes towards tattoos changed and tattooing had become unpopular in Japan. It was treated as the symbol of criminals and as a way to punish guilty persons. It was a way to treat them differently and to outcast them from society. It was declared by the rulers then as an illegal activity for common people to tattoo themselves. Family members segregated their fellow members if he or she got a tattoo design on his or her body.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

Even though getting a tattoo became illegal, there were still people who were passionate about getting one. They got themselves tattooed in places of the body that would not be visible to others, to prevent getting punished and to prevent themselves getting separated from their community or their group.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

As the number of persons getting tattoos reduced, the popularity of the native designs and techniques started to fade. Only a few tattoo designers were still able to continue their tattooing work and most of those that were skilled found different jobs.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

Secret shops were opened to serve those individuals who were passionate to get tattooed. After World War II, tattooing was declared as a legal activity and anyone who wished to get tattooed could act according to their wish without hiding from the general public. Japanese tattoo designs got a chance to flourish and even the Western world started to notice the appeal of these designs and tattooing techniques.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

When we get to learn the history behind Japanese tattoo designs, we understand how the perspective towards tattooing changed from the purposes of decoration to the purpose of punishment and then back to decorative accessories.(Kato)

Tattoorism: Tammy from Texas

Last summer, my wife Melanie met Tammy on the staff message board of their company's website, where she and other employees across the country can exchange ideas and feedback. As a leader for Weight Watchers, Melanie often comes across members and co-workers who have used tattoos for inspiration and to mark milestones.

When talking to Tammy, a leader in Texas, she learned that she was inked, as well. She sent her the link to Tattoosday, and Tammy sent us photos of a few of her eleven tattoos.

We'll let Tammy describe them for us:

"I got my very first [tattoo] when I was 21 in Virginia while getting a tattoo for my younger brother but I didn't get another for several years at which time I had my uncle in Arkansas place a rose under the butterfly I had done first. It is old and faded but holds so much meaning to me as my uncle passed away in his 40s about 5 years ago so I have him with me at all times...I then waited a couple more years and had a dolphin put on my left ankle as a reminder of a trip we had made to Florida. About a year later an apprentice in Shreveport added an ankle wave under the dolphin.

I then took a long break from tattoos and the rest have all been done in the last 5 years here in Wichita Falls, Texas, with the exception of the tribal butterfly [seen below]. I had it done in Lawton, Oklahoma, when my son was getting his rib piece finished up [a subject of a later post].

On my right thigh I have the New York Yankees logo:

On my left shoulder blade my husband and I got kanji symbols for Eternity for our 19th wedding anniversary. I have a tribal butterfly (the only tattoo I have ever picked off a wall) put on the top of my left foot and I love it:


When I hit 50 pounds gone, my oldest son paid for the star that everyone sees in pictures I post:

And a Pisspot with my husbands name [pictured left]. My husband just retired with 26 years in the service and was AMMO-I always wanted this but was never brave enough nor skinny enough for that so called "tramp stamp"... it actually looks awesome although this picture is a little blurry.



And of course when I hit Lifetime [when a Weight Watchers member reaches their goal and maintains it for six weeks], my rib piece came alive:

The photo above is the tattoo right after it was completed. Here is how it healed:



Most of Tammy's work was done at A Different Drummer Tattoo Studio in Wichita Falls.

Thanks to Tammy for sharing some of her photos with us here on Tattoosday!

Japanese Tattoo Collection | Angry Elephant Tattoo Design

Tattoo of colorful angry elephant on body

Tribal Look Tattoo Design | Japanese Tribal Tattoo Design

Tattoo of tribal lady on right fist

Japanese Monument Tattoo Design

Tattoo of Japanese monuments and trees on body

A Lull

On January 20, I logged the following notes:

12:10 PM. Rather than wander in search of ink, I am trying something else. Staying put, here in front of the Amtrak Departures board in Penn Station, and seeing what walks to me.

I have only successfully met 2 of the inked nation in the last 27 days, and I'd like to resume posting more regularly.

I figure, sooner or later, this wintry drought will end.

12:20 A woman walks by with two interlinking gray hearts behind her right ear. I hesitate and decide not to approach her as she walks by. The tattoo didn't speak to me.

12:35 Still nothing. 5 minutes left in my little experiment.

12:36 Ed Hardy baseball cap.

Experiment Fail.

Japanese Kanji Tattoo

What's So Special About Kanji Tattoo Designs?



Kanji tattoo designs are characters from a cryptic Japanese alphabet. This style of tattoo has become very popular within all of North America. You have likely seen these tattoos before, and maybe you would like to get one yourself. But, what is so special about Kanji tattoo designs?



Getting a tattoo of a Kanji symbol is very common. You can make use of these ancient characters to create a tattoo that represents love, strength, or anything else that is important to you in your life. Many people get this type of tattoo because they are really trendy at the moment, but they are also a really great way to get a subtle tattoo that does not take up a lot of space.



If you are thinking of getting a Kanji tattoo, you should definitely take your time to do the research for what you plan to get before you go and get it. There is quite a bit of confusion in many of the symbols, and you will not want to make the mistake of getting a symbol that means one thing when you think it means something else. This is something that has happened to a lot of people, and it is not a pleasant experience.



There are many online tattoo design directories that can show you endless ideas that you can use for your tattoo. These sites will generally have a category that is specifically for Kanji designs. You can use these as a resource to find something that means what you want it to mean.



Kanji tattoo designs are a great idea for anybody who wants to get a simple tattoo that is subtle and means something very personal to them. These tattoos will be forever, so make sure that you do the research to find one that truly means something for you.



By Greg E. West