Another tattoo question

Hi does anyone know or have any idea where I could start with this? I want to get a tattoo of my kids names. We’ve all seen many westerners with kanji tattoos, but in my opinion most of them look horrible, many are just computer fonts. I’d like to get a really good, and unique design. Asking the tattoo artist seems reasonable but it probably isn’t their area of expertise, correct? If tattoo trends are anything to go by I believe that while many artists will be skilled at making designs of koi fish etc. they may be less well versed in kanji. What I’m looking for is probably a skilled calligrapher whom I could commission for a design to take into the tattoo shop myself, but I don’t even know where to start.

Please help? A tattoo is for life and I want to get this right. Thank you

Your kids’ names would be in katakana and not in kanji.

As you said, a tattoo is for life.......

Much hangs on what your kids' names are. Some names might just happen to have kanji with the same or similar pronunciations. For instance, the name "Hannah" - in Japanese "hana" means "flower", the kanji for "flower" being 花.

If you want to get it right, don't convert a Western name into kanji, because that is incorrect.

As mentioned, I'm afraid not all Japanese letters are kanji, and foreign names as well as many domestic names are written in kana. If you prefer kanji, ask a Chinese artist.

You're right, we have all seen westerners with kanji tattoos, but they don't look horrible because of the font. They look horrible because it's someone wearing kanji with absolutely no understanding of it. It's tacked-on exoticism.

Um, I’m sure you all mean well and I do appreciate the comments but you’ve all assumed too much. My kids are Japanese. Their names ARE in written in kanji. Kanji which my wife and I chose, I can assure you all that we both understand the meanings of our kids’ names quite perfectly.

You can't blame us. You talked about being westerners after all. If their names are in kanji and you understand it, why do you need help exactly?

From my original post: What I’m looking for is probably a skilled calligrapher whom I could commission for a design to take into the tattoo shop myself, but I don’t even know where to start.

Oh, I never imagined that a person of Japanese heritage would want their names tattooed. Actually, if they were named in kanji, do you think you can find a relative who can do the calligraphy? I think that would be most thoughtful, and also along the tradition, because when a child is born, the person who names him/her writes the name in traditional calligraphy to be presented on a wall for a while. If you have any relation to religious sects, a monk would do too. And, yes, I do mean well.

Thanks, I don’t think it would be so easy. My wife’s parents don’t approve of our relationship and never have. Partly because I’m not Japanese, partly because they just don’t like me. As a result we don’t really have a relationship with them. We’re living in the UK now

I wouldn’t want to do it myself. My Japanese writing is only good enough for notes and shopping lists between my wife and I.

We aren’t connected to any temples or shrines from where we lived in Tokyo. Actually I’m a Roman Catholic.

And your wife doesn't know anyone at all who can fax her the calligraphy? Or can she even write it herself? I don't mean to offend you, but are you really sure you want to get that tattoo when the kanji version seems so unrelated to your current situation? Is your wife and children even okay about the possibility of her parents one day finding that tattoo on your body? Perhaps an alphabet version is closer and sincere to the true relationship between you and your children.

Actually, this is just my personal opinion, but if I were as devoted as to ink something that permanent in my own body, I would first devote myself to learn calligraphy myself from a proper tutor. Finding that tutor would be my path to come closer to my children's heritage. Then, once I've mastered the way to write the names, the calligraphy would be my own work of art coming from the depth of my own heart, and I can have it inked on my body as a tattoo that really means something. But that's just me.

Try searching 書道アーティスト or 書道アートand see where that leads you.

@uco
I don’t... quite understand. My current situation is that I live in the UK, nothing else. It’s not like I have zero connection to the country, quite the opposite. My kids are Japanese, not British, they just live here for now. I want their names in kanji because those are the names we chose for them. And because frankly it looks a lot prettier than Japanese names written in romaji.

My kids aren’t being raised to believe that tattoos are a bad thing, and my wife thinks Japan’s tattoo hysteria is bizarre. There are no concerns about whether or not anyone will find out about it because I don’t plan on keeping it a secret. My wife’s family already know I have tattoos. What they think of that is of zero concern to me. What they think of my relationship with their daughter is of greater importance.

As for learning to do it myself, I’d just prefer to have a skilled artist with years of experience to do it for me. Any good tattoo will have input from the wearer, for sure, but rarely will it be designed by him/her unless they are already a skilled artist, which I am not.

@taco grande
Thank you yes of course I have googled but mostly what I found was information on the role itself. I’m looking to hire someone.

Try "筆耕サービス" on Google.
筆耕 is a job that does calligraphy to order, mainly for practical use.

Hi again.

Just as a reply to your other post, I don't have nothing against tattoos. In fact, I love them, some of the Japanese people I love have them, I love their tattoos, and I make them show them off when I introduce them to my other friends.

What I don't understand is, while writing kanji names in calligraphy is a simple (and thoughtful) task for most people who went to school in Japan, the fact that even your Japanese wife is encouraging you to hire someone else to write it. It would only make sense if both you and your wife are very unfamiliar to the calligraphy culture in Japan for one way or another. I mean, my aunt is Anglican and she writes beautiful calligraphy just like everyone else I know. That's what I meant when I wrote "unrelated to your current situation". And I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to be not able to write calligraphy while being Japanese. I'm just saying that it seems something so far away from you guys who probably already enjoy another lovely culture of your own.

As for the question about your in-laws, I didn't mean it in the context of the other things I wrote. I was simply wondering if you really knew what you're trying to do, since it didn't make sense to me in many ways.

But each family has its preferences and ideas, and I truly hope you find what you want.