Do you want to get a cat tattooed? Do you love felines and you are passionate about Japanese art and culture? Would you like to know more about these tattoos and have many examples to be able to inspire you?
We also love this whole universe and we will try to best answer your questions
In this article, you will discover:
- What these different tattoos and Japanese folklore means around these animals
- A multitude of examples
You will now be able to choose the design and the location that suits you best, in order to keep a drawing on your skin that you will not regret!
Let’s not waste more time and discover this together!
Japanese cat tattoo significance
Japanese tattoos are linked to the culture and folklore of this country, several legends are associated with cats. Depending on their posture and expressions, these animals can express different things.
Let’s discover and decipher the best known together:
1. Maneki-Neko tattoo
You necessarily know this cat generally white or gold having a raised paste in action that greets you, generally present in shops or as decoration. But apart from being funny and cute, what does it really mean?
At first, you should know that “Maneki-Neko” translates “Cat that invites” in French, because unlike popular belief this cat does not greet us, in reality it invites us to To approach. He appeared in the era of Edo (1603-1868) in Tokyo, then began to appear in other countries starting with the United States with the first waves of Asian immigration.
Depending on its color, this little cat has a different meaning, but it is mainly known for bring luck, happiness and prosperity to its owner .
So if you are a welcoming person, that you are rather sensitive to beliefs and you want to attract luck and make a fortune, a maneki-neko tattoo could perfectly match you.
Here are some examples you can take inspiration from:
2. Bakeneko tattoo
Much less known than the Maneki-Neko in the West, the Bakeneko which translates “Chat-Monstre” in French is a superstition of several centuries on the archipelago. This legend of Japanese folklore describes a cat with supernatural powers which he obtains by meeting one or more conditions:
- He is over 13 years old
- It weighs more than 1 Kan (Japanese measurement unit which is equivalent to 3.5 kg)
- He has a very long tail
This evil creature is part of the family of yokai , supernatural creatures or malicious minds very present in Japanese culture.
In Japanese mythology, this animal would have the power to turn into human, pronounce words, but also to take possession of human body and make people dance.
This is why the meaning of a bakeneko tattoo is very personal, it’s up to you to interpret it as you wish! In addition, an external person who does not sufficiently know Japanese culture and folklore & nbsp; will undoubtedly ask you questions about his meaning.
3. Nekomata tattoo
Like Bakeneko, Nekomata is a type of yokai in the shape of a cat from Japanese folklore. We can easily confuse both, but we will differentiate them together.
Nekomata’s first appearance was postponed to the Meigetsuki newspaper of Fujiwara No Teika in 1233 , he says he saw an animal having “eyes like a cat, and a Body like that of a dog ”, having killed and eaten several people in one night.
In the book tsurezuregusa , it is said that there are also pets that age, which can transform, remove and eat people.
These very old, very large and really mean cats are therefore much more powerful and naughty than Bakeneko. They are often associated with death in Japan and even would have powers of necromancy, they could control the dead after having resurrected them.
Here are some nekomata tattoos :
Kazuaki Horitomo tattoo
Do you know Kazuaki Horritomo ? This man is an extremely known Japanese tattoo artist who has decided to combine his passion for art with those for cats. In the 90s, his wife brought a cat back home, and he fell in love with this feline directly. He then was inspired by his animal (Ginnan) for his arts of art.
Kazuaki thinks that by drawing these animals, he has access to their spiritual power . He then produced many drawings or tattoos showing cats in interactions, here are some:
Ephemeral tattoos (an alternative solution)
Before doing a tattoo, you have to be sure of your choice. Some of these drawings can be of unique beauty, which will make you happy and transform your skin into a real work of art, but others may not match you.
If you always have uncertainties, we strongly advise you to test several designs and location thanks to our ephemeral cat tattoos . They will allow you more easily visualize the final result , without risking having to go through a lasser treatment to make it disappear.
Discover this collection by clicking on the image below:
List of Japanese feline tattoos
To help you with your choice, our team trying to group the 50 & nbsp; best tattoos in the shape of cats with Japanese design .
And above all, do not hesitate to enlarge the images, download them, even to print them to show them to your tattoo artist if you like the design.
Choose your tattoo knowingly
With the multitude of models we presented to you, you now have an overview of the different designs combining Japanese cat culture.
We know that this decision is very important, that is why we hope you could find a model that looks like you or at least that you have been able to have tattoo ideas that you can later personalize as you wish.
If you are inspired by the meaning of cat tattooing and want to kiss this unique symbolism, we invite you to discover our superb collection of Chat Tables available on our site. Whether you prefer realistic representations, abstract works or artistic illustrations, our collection will captivate cat lovers and art enthusiasts. Do not hesitate to visit our site to find the perfect work that will accompany you on your personal trip.
Click on the image! 😺