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Katana tattoos feature the quintessential Japanese sword, that beautiful curved and lethal piece that we have seen in animes like Rurouni Kenshin and that has even earned its own place in the history of cinema thanks to movies like Kill Bill.
That is why, without a doubt, katana tattoos deserve an article. In this We will deal with some curiosities of this precious weapon with a lot of history, in addition to talking about its meaning and tell you how you can take advantage of it with a few ideas. And if you want more, we recommend this other article on traditional japanese tattoos.
Meaning of katana tattoos
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The meaning of tattoos with this beautiful sword as the protagonist is closely related to the warriors who carried them, the samurai. These fierce warriors were not only fearsome, but also had a highly refined culture and a high code of honor. These are precisely the elements that katanas represent: honor, ferocity and strength.
Curiosities of katanas
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Katanas are a very interesting weapon with a lot of history. They are characterized by having a curved blade and for being created by fabulous craftsmen, who could spend years on a single piece. As you can imagine, there are a lot of curiosities that will make you want to have one of these tattoos even more.
The first katanas
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The first katanas appeared in the Muromachi period (which goes from 1336 to 1573) and it was not by magic, since they were an evolution of the sasuga, a short weapon with which the samurai on foot fought and that was "lengthened" since in those times the weapons long were fashionable, which led to the appearance of the katana that we all know.
Katana in World War II
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The katanas were not only a thing of the ancient samurai, the Japanese army of the Second World War also carried one of these swords on their belts. In fact, so many had to be made and in such a short time that their manufacture had to be entrusted to artisans who had no idea of the process how to create these swords, as well as using materials other than tamahagane steel, which are currently not considered true katanas in Japan.
The difficult maintenance of katanas
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If you have a katana (beware that in some countries it is illegal), it will cost you a lot to maintain it, since you will need a special oil (called chōji) to keep the blade well hydrated. Likewise, so that it is not irreparably damaged, you will have to store it horizontally, with the sheet facing up and in a cover. To end, you will have to air it from time to time by removing it from the cover so that mold does not form.
Ideas and how to take advantage of these tattoos
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There are many different options to find a tattoo with a katana that is at the same time original, usually combining it with another typical element of Japanese culture, such as flowers, kanjis, bonsai...
katana styles
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One of the first things that you will have to decide for your katana tattoos is the style that you want to follow. Although one of the most popular is the traditional Japanese, there are many others that can work very well. (the elegance of this weapon plays a lot in its favor), for example, the realistic, the traditional or even the cartoon if you want it to have an anime touch.
items to share
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The katana can be accompanied by many different elements that will not only complete the design and give it a very interesting twist, but also can bring new meaning. Among the most popular we find elements such as:
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- Flowers. The Japanese are not only big fans of flowers for their beauty, but they have a lot of meanings associated with them, and they are the protagonists of haikus of great beauty. Among the most representative, the Japanese especially appreciate cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, peonies, plum blossoms... Keep in mind that the color of these elements can also play an important role in the final design.
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- Other natural elements. That Japan loves nature is no mystery, so it is not uncommon to find the katana tattoos accompanied by other natural elements such as leaves (maple, black pine, cherry, alder…), bamboo, animals (red-bottomed monkeys, inu dogs, short-legged cats…) or even meteorological elements (clouds, the moon, the sun…).
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- Kanji. Using writing in a tattoo in a language we don't know is always tricky, that's why it is vital that we find a professional (and not just a dictionary if we do not want to screw up with some homonym) who knows how to tell us exactly how to write what we want to put in the target language. The case of katanas is not an exception.
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- Enso. To finish, the katana can also be accompanied by the enso circle, which we have already talked about on occasion, a typical element of Japanese calligraphy that symbolizes the illumination, strength and elegance of the universe, and in which spontaneity matters more than perfection when making the circle.
Where to put a katana tattoo
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There are many places where we can put any tattoo that has katanas as protagonists, we will only have to try to make it framed in a natural way. Therefore, look for a place that is naturally vertical, like the arm or leg, or that follows a horizontal line (real or imagined) like the collarbone or under the chest.
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Katana tattoos can be amazing, well combined, they are simple, elegant and contain incredible strength. Tell us, do you have any tattoo of this style? What does it mean to you? Do you think we have left something out to mention?
