I wanted to try my hand at the fairly classic koi tattoo but with a personal twist. This one depicts a coelacanth which are lobe-finned fish known as "living fossils". They're relatives of our own fish ancestors prior to our lineage leaving the water.
Some yakuza inspired ceramics!!!! My phone kept turning off while looking at irezumis so these are mostly inaccurate to the originals but i think that just gave me more artistic freedom so im not mad
extreme levels of yap under the cut about their tattoos
recap: inoshikacho are a generations old alliance between 3 yakuza clans/families, their alliance is marked by the leaders' wooden ear gauges that are carved with their clan symbols. the yamanaka are spies and poison makers, the akimichi control underground entertainment (fighting/casinos/etc), and the nara are drug traffickers.
ino's tattoos (soushinbori donburi - full body suit)
shibari - i incorporated the use of shibari in 3 ways:
it is the border of the bodysuit
the double bands on her hands and feet are also a nod to the old tattoos that japanese authorities used to mark on criminals to brand them
acts as the web of the jorogumo (woman spider) on her back
shibari symbolism as used in the tattoo and in relation to her character lore in this au:
the yamanaka run brothels and the women/men who work there are trained to spy; the shibari symbolises both the sexual nature of the yamanaka information network
often represented in on-going detective work, red string is used on evidence boards as a web of connections
red string of fate, which also ties people together
the jorogumo (woman spider) and other motifs
ino's main piece on her back is the jorogumo, spider woman which symbolises allure, danger, deception and desire. these encompass everything the yamanaka do in their criminal activities.
namakubi (severed heads) to symbolise the yamanaka triumph over others in getting what they want. the jorogumo has captured a head in her web. and there are other severed heads around her body lying in key spots.
various flowers. i think this is self explanatory. i'm not gonna go into every flower and their meaning.
various yokai women because cool factor, scary factor, feminine factor, and meaning factor (but also not gonna get into it too much)
the gakubori (background) feature sky to ground motifs with wind bars, clouds, stones, and flowing waters. this is to symbolise she is everywhere, searching high and low for what she wants (and she will get)
extra funfact: the back of her neck is in the W shape end of a geisha's white make up. this is not typical of a traditional japanese tattoo border.
choji's tattoos (kame no koh, hikae nagasode - turtle back and chest panels with full sleeves)
choji's main subject is the fudo myo (the wise immovable king)
a symbol of strength, compassion, wrath, and purification
the motifs all complement the deity: fire, ropes, swords, dragons
no representations of earthly subjects, everything is in the sky and clouds
golden dragons to represent value and virtue, one on each arm. one looks up and the other looks down, almost mimicking a yin yang balance.
choji also engages in sumo tradition in this au. so he is very much in control, stoic, yet fierce. he reflects the values and attributes of the fudo myo and the powerful creatures and motifs that all seem dangerous but are in balance with each other
shikamaru's tattoos (munewari hanzubon - half split body suit)
the motifs are simple, hannya and the snake:
hannya is a transformed woman by jealousy and rage and shikamaru's tattoo depicts her in her 3rd and final stage, of complete transformation and loss of self
the snake is a common pairing and the hannya. whilst both can be used as talismans to ward off evil, they can also represent cunning. which is what i attribute to shikamaru
there are also maple leaf motifs (leaves of autumn), these represent the transient, letting go, and reflection. which also is a core part of shikamaru's character both in the au and canon
additionally, i included juzu beads on one arm for extra flavour. the beads usually are to top off the ends of a body suit, typically seen in shichibu (3/4 sleeve) and full sleeves. but shikamaru is a dirty dirty deviant. and also, i think it looks nice and adds a bit of asymmetry.
(i added the snake bite piercings on shikamaru as an after thought (it might not be obvious the way i drew it lawl) i'm usually a crazy hater of these piercings but i think...they kinda fit here..still thinking about it tho....)
if you got through all my geeking out have a BIG SLOPPY SMOOCH ON YOUR LIPS
