Japanese Calligraphy Tattoo Designs

Takase Studios offers a full line of Japanese Calligraphy tattoo designs all hand-lettered by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase. So whether you are looking for a library of Stock Tattoo Designs ready for instant download or for a completely Custom Tattoo Design, Takase Studios has it all.

All designs are hand lettered personally by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase. These are not the computer generated fonts that one so often sees.

Custom Tattoo Designs

Work directly with Master Calligrapher Eri Takase to create a custom design that is just for you. We work with you on the translation, the font, and the layout to get just the right look and feel. We do this by sending you digital samples via email that we can then discuss and make changes to in an interactive process. This normally takes only two or three passes and can be completed in as little as a few days.

Body Art is Expressing Yourself

Stock calligraphy will not always reflect you and what you want to say. Body Art is about expressing yourself and can be as unique as you are. The creation of the design should be a collaboration between you and the calligrapher, an interactive process, resulting in a unique work of individual expression.

Body Art is a Personal Expression

Japanese Calligraphy designs require absolutely correct translations. One needs to be sure that the design has the intended meaning and has a visual presentation that fits you and your style. Takase Studios has both a native English speaking translator and a Native Japanese translator. We take great care in making sure that the designs we create are absolutely correct and we are happy to provide you with as much supporting material as you need. By doing this we are able to create a design that expresses what you want to say with the visual impact that you want.

Mareena marina Phonetic Translation to Kanji This design is a phonetic translation to kanji of the name Mareena and is simply fantastic. Thank you Hisaya for sharing this and for your permission to use the photo. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine.

Body Art is Personal

Calligraphy based Body Art Designs require mastery of the art as well as accuracy and attention to detail. You need to be able to interact with the artist at every level to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the design. We take great pride in providing you with the information and visual feedback to ensure that you are getting the design that is just right for you.

At Takase Studios we work with you on each step of the design and give you personal attention. As an example of the process we use we have documented a typical example of two such sessions at Custom Design Process. In creating your design we use the same personalized attention.

Testimonials

---

"Good evening, Eri -

Thank you!  I have decided on (12) Respect, Love, Passion.  
It is beautiful and I look forward to having it done.  The completed size is great the way it is on the sample you sent.
If I need to do anything more, just let me know.  I will highly recommend your site and your work to anyone.
Again, I sincerely appreciate your assistance, your knowledge and work in creating something I truly believe expresses me."
 
Tiffany
 

---

"I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that I received the final tattoo designs in priority mail on Saturday and I appreciate the speediness at which you sent them to me.

I also wanted to send you a huge Thank You for all the work you put into this project. I have been mulling this over for years and never found the "right" design or a way to go about getting one made until I came across your website. At first, I was a bit leery about doing business over the web but I was soon convinced that it was a perfect way to go after our first email conversation. The entire process was quite enjoyable and I am more than 100% satisfied with everything!" Kelli
 

---

"Thank you so much for your wonderful designs! They are everything I had hoped for. Thank you again for all your help and if anyone wants a reference please do not hesitate to give them my email address." Don
 

---

"Dina received the piece this morning and she LOVED it! Thanks again for all of your help. I'll probably be ordering at least one more piece in the next month or two." Ron
 

---

"We just wanted to thank you again for your hard work and extra effort in getting the art mailed out to us. You were correct when you said that the originals would assist us with our decision. We ended up selecting the second, new to us version, of #2, which we jokingly called "2a".

We had our tattoos done and neither of us could be more pleased with the outcome. Thank you so much." Cameron

Custom Body Art Ideas Order Your Personal Design at: Custom Body Art Design
Name in Japanese Jude	Name in Japanese This beautiful design translates both the meaning and the pronunciation of the name. The design on the left is for the name Jude. The standard way names are translated to Japanese is with a phonetic translation to katakana and this is shown in the upper right. This design also features the meaning of the name in kanji. Jude means Praise God which in Japanese is sanshu and is the main kanji in the design. On our website we have a wealth of information and over 3000 names translated to Japanese. To find out more about a particular name see Names in Japanese. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine. And to order a custom tattoo design of a Name in Japanese visit our catalog Custom Body Art - Name in Japanese
Family Bonds kizuna	Family Bonds (kizuna) This design features kizuna meaning family bonds as the main kanji. Each member of the family is written in the lower left - in this case katakana works perfectly and all names can fit in this area. Katakana is the standard way names are translated to Japanese. The parents names are to either side in a protective position. Safe between the parents are the two children's names. This design also includes a small red Eternity seal between the children's name. On our website we have a wealth of information and over 3000 names translated to Japanese. To find out more about a particular name see Names in Japanese. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine. And to order a custom tattoo design of Family Bonds visit our catalog Custom Body Art - Family Bonds
Life inochi	Life (inochi) This design is the character for Life with the loved one's name written to the lower left. This particular design also includes a small seal meaning Eternally. There is a long history behind this design. Historically a geisha forbidden to marry would proclaim her love in a tiny version of this design. Today the meaning is to proclaim someone as being your whole life and is used for all loved ones including a fiancé, spouse, or even one's child. On our website we have a wealth of information and over 3000 names translated to Japanese. To find out more about a particular name see Names in Japanese. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine. And to order a custom tattoo design of Life (inochi) visit our catalog Custom Body Art - Life
Love ai	Love (ai) In this beautiful design Love is the symbol connecting two souls.  In the example on the left the names are written in katakana which is the standard way non-Japanese names are written in Japanese. Thank you Steve and Carrie for permission to use this wonderful image On our website we have a wealth of information and over 3000 names translated to Japanese. To find out more about a particular name see Names in Japanese. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine. And to order a custom tattoo design of Love connecting two names visit our catalog Custom Body Art - Love
Soul Mates tamashii no tomo	Soul Mates (tamashii no tomo) The central character in light gray is a design of the characters for Soul Mates. In the corners are the personalized names written in beautiful Japanese calligraphy. In this example the names are translated phonetically to katakana is the standard way that names are translated to Japanese. On our website we have a wealth of information and over 3000 names translated to Japanese. To find out more about a particular name see Names in Japanese. For information on how names may be rendered into Japanese see How To Write Names in Japanese which are articles from Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's monthly column in Martial Arts Insider magazine. And to order a custom tattoo design of Soul Mates connecting two names visit our catalog Custom Body Art - Soul Mates
	Love (koi) Design with the central character for Love with the name in the upper right. For more information see Names in Japanese  Koi is used to describe the love for that special someone. Koi would not be used to describe love for a parent or child. Other than between a couple one use use Love (ai) shown above.

Stock Tattoo Designs

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website StockKanji.com which features thousands of Japanese Calligraphy designs for tattoos. Each and every design in the catalog was hand-lettered by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase.

We feature a wide variety of designs including Martial Arts, Restaurant, Religious and Zodiac. The tattoo designs come complete with the line art (stencil) that your tattoo artist must have to properly ink the design.

Each tattoo design includes the stencil (also called line art) that your tattoo artist will need to accurately ink the design.

True Victory is Victory Over Oneself Masakatsu Agatsu was coined by the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba. One interpretation teaches that while we may not have control over others we should always have control over ourselves.
True Victory is Victory Over Oneself masakatsu agatsu 5" H Cursive (sousho) Script Thank you Irma for your kind permission to use this stunning photograph.	Tattoo Design with Stencil 4 1/4" Block (kaisho)
	Tattoo Design with Stencil 5" H Cursive (sousho) Script
	Tattoo Design with Stencil 5" Semi-Cursive (gyousho)

Top ten most requested designs:

1 Love 2 Family 3 Bushido 4 Honor 5 Faith 6 Hope 7 Warrior 8 Courage 9 Mother 10 Dragon

Each word in the catalog is shown in several styles The meaning is the same but each has a different look and feel. Select the design that suits you.
Crisis kiki Crisis in Japanese is kiki which combines the kanji for danger and opportunity.	Block	Cursive	Semi-Cursive

Mix and Match for a One of a Kind Design Step 1. Select the font for Love Step 2. Select the Names in Japanese Step 3. Purchase and Download Is the name not in the Catalog? No problem, use Request A Name In Japanese which has options in both katakana and hiragana and in a few days you will be emailed the design. Or, if you are looking for a completely custom design, use Custom Tattoo Design where you work directly with Master Takase to create a unique design that is just right for you. Remember you can resize a design to fit your needs.

Love ai

Love connects two souls  This pattern uses the kanji for Love with the lovers names written to each side. Love as a bond that connects two souls. Combine Love with your Names in Japanese for a completely unique design. Thank you Steve and Carrie for permission to use this wonderful image. The on-line catalog contains several hundred Names in Japanese. And if your name is not in the catalog you may order a name at Request A Name In Japanese.

Takase Studios Tattoo Designs are hand drawn by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase. Each body art design shows the tattoo image and stencil (line art) that your tattoo artist must have in order to properly ink the design. These body art designs can even be resized. What is more the body art designs are immediately made available when your order is placed. There is no need to wait - Download your designs today!

Body Art Designs You Can Trust - Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase has been creating custom body art designs for over ten years with thousands upon thousands of satisfied customers. You have probably even seen Master Takase's work in movies, on TV, or in print or even on a favorite product. Now you can have beautiful Japanese Calligraphy in your own personal expression of body art.

Looking for a Tattoo Design of a Name? Well you have two options. One is to browse our extensive list of names at Name in Japanese List which features over 2400 of the most popular given names. The other option is to start shopping at our online catalog at Name in Japanese On-Line Catalog.

Can't Find Your Name in the Catalog?  No problem, use Request A Name In Japanese which has options in both katakana and hiragana and in a few days you will be emailed the design. This includes both the design that the line art (sometimes called a stencil). This is a hand drawn set by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase of three different versions of the name in a font and size matching the other tattoo designs in our catalog. Within a few days your finished body art design along with the line art will be emailed directly to you - Nothing could be easier.

Looking for a Kanji Design? We also maintain a larger list of words used throughout this website and in tattoo designs. If you are looking for a particular word browse our list of kanji designs at Japanese Kanji Word List or start shopping at our online catalog at Japanese Kanji Tattoo Designs

Mix and Match With the names and stock art designs you can create unique and individual designs. Take the downloaded designs you have purchased to your tattoo artist and collaborate to create a truly unique work of art with beautiful Japanese Calligraphy.

How About a Completely Custom Design?  Can't find exactly what you want in the Catalog? How about working directly with Master Calligrapher Eri Takase to create a Custom Tattoo Designs. Master Takase has collaborated with thousands upon thousands of satisfied clients over the last ten years creating unique and personalized designs. Designs can usually be completed in as little as a few days.

Carefully Documented Tattoo Designs

These unique and sophisticated designs are carefully documented with the Japanese reading and the dictionary version of the kanji - this means that you can easily verify the meaning yourself by either using an on-line dictionary such as Japanese <-> English Dictionary or by visiting your favorite library or book store. And if you have a question please feel free to contact us.

Along with accuracy you want a design that matches your personality and style with just the right look and feel. For each carefully documented design we offer a variety of fonts and styles. Whether you are looking for bold permanence or flowing movement, we have the design that is just right for you.

And it is not enough to have a calligraphy design that just says something - the way it is said is just as important. This is why for each design we offer options in font and style - from bold and daring to feminine and delicate - with all the options you are sure to find a design that fits you.

Thousands of Beautiful Designs

Each design in the catalog was hand drawn by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase specifically for body art. These designs were then scanned in and digitized using the best software available. The result is that you will have in your hands a beautifully and accurately rendered version of the original that is ready to take to your tattoo artist.

Balance kinkou

Block

Cursive

Semi-Cursive

Cherry Blossoms sakura
Cursive (sousho)	Design	Design

 

Transformation (metamorphosis) henshin
Cursive (sousho)	Design	Design

See Names in Japanese. We will mainly be adding names in katakana which is the standard way that non-Japanese names are rendered into Japanese. Because katakana is an angular syllabary women will often want to use the more feminine hiragana. This is exciting and are designs that you may not have seen before.

The Japanese Calligraphy Tattoo Design catalog offers hundreds of designs on a variety of topics - and more designs are being added daily.

When you purchase a design you get the design as it should appear on the skin and the stencil / line drawing that your tattoo artist will need to ink the design. Each design is also documented with the meaning, the Japanese reading and the kanji as it appears in the dictionary.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I get the design?

Immediately. Non-custom designs are made immediately available after your order is placed. The design will remain in My Downloads for two weeks. It is important to save the design to a safe location on your disk.

What if I need a different size for the design?

The designs are in a PDF format with the image vectorized. This means that you can increase or decrease the size of the design and the image will still be clean and accurate.

The simplest way to change the size is to change the size in acrobat reader, then use your print screen button to copy the image to memory, then you can paste the image to your system paint program and print it out. With a little experimentation you can use this to create any size for the design and stencil.

Can I use the image on my website?

No. The images in the tattoo section are priced and licensed for a single non-commercial use. Mass distribution of a design regardless of whether it is for commercial purposes is now allowed.

Can I use some of the love designs on my wedding invitation?

Each design comes in three formats. The PDF format is most suitable for body art. If you are looking to reproduce the design we have two commercial use options in .JPG format.

Can I use an image on a wood carving that I am doing?

Yes. If a design is to be use more than once though it should be purchased for each use.

Can I incorporate the design into a larger tattoo design?

Yes. This may be done for your personal use. The resultant design, however, may not be sold. This is strictly for personal use.

What exactly do I get when I order?

Each design starts out as an original hand-drawn design by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase. The individual design is then scanned in, a stencil is created and the final work converted to the Adobe PDF format. By using this format the image you print will be the same as Master Takase designed. The downloadable artwork (an actual design is on the right) shows the design as it should appear on the skin and includes the stencil your tattoo artist will need to ink the design. Also included is the Japanese reading and the kanji as it appears in the dictionary. And, as almost all computers have Adobe PDF reader installed all you need is to just download and go.