Top 59 Japanese Wave Tattoo Ideas - [2021 Inspiration Guide]

Water is a vital symbol for the Japanese, not only because the nation is surrounded by an ocean but because of the illustrious relationship between the Japanese people and the power of the sea.

Japanese symbols play off each other with practiced similarity and relatable imagery often linked by symbolism or seasons.

Waves are some of the most utilized elements in Japanese art, with pieces by famous Japanese artists reaching global recognition. Some pieces have been translated directly into tattoos or used as inspiration for tattoo art, like the famous “Great Wave” by Katsushika Hokusai.

Japanese wave tattoos are typically representative of power, fluidity, and movement. Such tattoos are often blended with animal motifs like koi, oni, or a dragon. They could also represent the ever-changing nature of life.

These 59 Japanese wave tattoo ideas show versatility in their capture between being the main design (Shudai), secondary motif (Keshoubori), or filler picture (Gokoubori). Each type of wave tattoo style can provide plenty of inspiration for your next body art.

See more about - The Top 121+ Best Japanese Tattoo Ideas

1. Hokusai Inspired Japanese Wave Tattoos

Wave tattoos inspired by the art of Katsushika Hokusai rarely disappoint. The work of this great and world-renowned Japanese artist has undoubtedly inspired a multitude of tattoos, many of which are based on his famous painting “The Great Wave“. Tattoos inspired by this amazing piece of art tend to share many of the same core characteristics. They depict water, often in blue and white ink, although some of these tattoos are inked in black and gray.

It may seem obvious, but these tattoos are most recognizable by the fact that they almost always feature a wave. The more specific and defining point to notice is that this wave tends to be quite large in scale. It is not a standard wave by any means. No, rather, it is a monstrous, overwhelming extension of the ocean.

Awesome Guys The Great Wave Off Kangawa Inner Forearm Japanese Tattoos

Cool Guys Japanese The Great Wave Off Kangawa Circle Tattoo On Inner Arm Bicep

Geometric Japanese Wave Male Inner Arm Bicep Tattoo

Mens Japanese Great Wave Rib Cage Side Tattoo

Square Japanese Great Wave Tattoo For Guys On Arm

Great Wave Off Kangawa Mens Japanese Rib Cage Side And Stomach Tattoo

Woodcut Detailed Male Japanese Great Wave Off Kangawa Circle Tattoo On Inner Arm

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa Mens Japanese Arm Tattoos

2. Japanese Wave Full Color Sleeves

These sleeves showcase the beauty of the wave and the importance it plays in Japanese culture as a symbol of power, life, and other elements. One of the many aspects of these sleeves that make them especially vivid and aesthetically stunning is the rich color pallets that the tattoo artist used to create them.

Waves are not the only elements involved in a Japanese full sleeve tattoo design, however. Multiple pieces are set alongside them and can include everything from flowers to the koi, a masculine linked fish often found in Japanese tattoo designs.

Sleeve Guys Blue Koi Fish Japanese Wave Tattoo Design Ideas

Leg Sleeve Blue Ink Japanese Wave Guys Tattoo Ideas

Awesome Japanese Wave Sleeve Tattoo Design Ideas For Men

Blue Koi Fish Ocean Wave Japanese Mens Half Sleeve Tattoos

Full Arm Guys Japanese Wave With Skull Tattoo Designs

Full Sleeve Mens Japanese Orange Koi Fish With Blue Waves Sleeve Tattoo

Traditional Japanese Waves Mens Water Sleeve Tattoo

Mens Japanese Flower With Koi Fish And Wave Half Sleeve Tattoo

3. Japanese Wave Back Tattoos

Japanese wave tattoos can be adapted to many body parts. Possibly one of the coolest places where Japanese wave tattoos are inked is the back, which is the largest canvas of body art.

Japanese wave tattoos on the back most often play a complementary role to the main theme (Shudai). Tattooing on the back makes bigger pieces and scenes possible. Back wave tattoos show much of what is seen on their sleeve counterparts but in a larger form, tying together larger symbolic elements.

Skulls With Ocean Waves Male Japanese Full Back Tattoo

Mens Giant Koi Fish Water Wave Japanese Full Back Tattoo Designs

Awesome Koi Fish Japanese Wave Mens Full Back Tattoos

4. Japanese Wave Upper Arm Tattoos

The upper arm is a space where pieces of Japanese tattoo art can be found looking their best, regardless of whether they’re done in black and gray shading or full color, as the examples below show. Japanese wave tattoos on the upper arm often show the rushing water in strong detail alongside accents such as flowers.

Pattern Japanese Wave Mens Arm Tattoos

Blue Ink Guys Japanese Wave Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Half Sleeve Old School Mens Traditional Japanese Wave Tattoo

Cool Old School Waves Japanese Half Sleeve Tattoo Ideas For Guys

Dragon Wave Guys Japanese Half Sleeve And Chest Tattoo

Creative Shoulder And Neck Japanese Wave Mens Tattoo Design Ideas

5. Grayscale Traditional Japanese Wave Tattoos

These Japanese tattoos do not include the color that other wave tattoos have. Despite this, however, they in no way appear lacking. These grayscale traditional Japanese wave tattoos are still extremely interesting and appealing in their own right. They are an equally strong display of the symbolic Japanese waves as well as the other elements that often go along with them.

Black And Grey Koi Fish With Waves Mens Japanese Half Sleeve Tattoo

Koi Fish Swimming In Water Waves Guys Japanese Half Sleeve Tattoo Ideas

Double Half Sleeves Mens Japanese Wave Tattoos

Flowers In Waves Japanese Male Sleeve Tattoo

Guy With Japanese Wave Sleeve Tattoo

Male With Traditional Japanese Wave Water Leg Tattoo

6. Japanese Chest and Side Tattoos

While they don’t provide as much space as the back, a man’s chest and side do have ample room for several different types of Japanese tattoos.

Still, others might incorporate slightly larger elements, such as the Japanese hannya mask. Many different pieces can be done on the chest or side; these spots are great for Japanese body art.

Traditional Japanese Great Wave With Rising Sun Mens Chest Tattoo

The Great Wave Japanese Mens Chest Tattoos

Full Rib Cage Side Manly Mens Japanese Wave Tattoos

Japanese Samuari Helmet With Skull And Wave Mens Rib Cage Side Tattoos

Demon Mask Oni Guys Wave Japanese Full Chest Tattoos

7. Japanese Leg Tattoos

The leg arguably hosts some of the most creative and artful Japanese tattoo designs one can get. These beautiful arrangements include assortments of stunning Japanese designs placed together to form cohesive, fitting pieces of body art.

Japanese leg tattoos are not difficult to spot as they often stand out from other types of leg pieces on account of their signature symbols, patterns, and color schemes.

Mens Snake Japanese Wave Leg Sleeve Tattoos

Full Leg Sleeve Japanese Wave Male Tattoo Designs

Orange Flower With Japanese Waves Mens Leg Calf Tattoos

8. Traditional Japanese Grayscale Sleeves

While Japanese grayscale sleeves may sound just like all other Japanese sleeve tattoos, they are really quite unique. Yes, it is true that the primary difference between a Japanese grayscale sleeve and a Japanese color sleeve is, well, the absence of color in the former.

This does not, however, mean that these grayscale sleeves are not strongly appealing in themselves. The appearance of gray on the various Japanese sleeve designs is certainly quite a good look for all of those who wear it.

Unique Mens Shaded Japanese Full Sleeve Tattoos

Masculine Japanese Wave Water Sleeve Tattoo Ideas For Gentlemen

Negative Space Water Waves Japanese Guys Sleeve Tattoo

Water Flowers With Waves Male Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

Water Waves Male Japanese Sleeve Tattoo Ideas

9. Black Ink and Blackout Japanese Wave Tattoos

Japanese wave tattoos done with black ink have a flair all their own. They have a crispness to them that is unique. They also have a bit of a vintage feel, something that is not necessarily seen to quite the same degree in other types of the same pieces.

Blackout tattoos are an especially unique type of Japanese wave tattoo design as they use black as the primary backdrop of the piece and essentially work out of it. These are truly exceptional examples of this tattoo style.

Man With Quarter Sleeve Traditional Japanese Water Wave Tattoo Design

Guys Japanese Black And Grey Ink Wave Skull Sleeve Tattoos

White Ink Over Black Ink Mens Japanese Wave Forearm Sleeve Tattoo

Manly Japanese Wave Male Forearm Tattoo Inspiration

Blackwork Mens Japanese Wave Demon Oni Mask Sleeve Tattoo Design

Koi Fish Outer Forearm Sleeve Japanese Wave Mens Tattoos

Japanese Wave Tattoo FAQ

What are Japanese traditional tattoos?

Traditional Japanese tattoos are referred to as irezumi. Those that are done by hand are referred to as tebori; however, tattoo technology has caught up and most designs are now done by a tattoo artist using a machine.

Japanese traditional design features rich patterns and heavy single fill and bold outline designs often covering large areas of skin.

What is gradation in black and gray tattoos?

Gradation is often essential in Japanese black and gray tattoos or single color ink against variations in shading.

It’s the visual technique of gradually transitioning from one color hue to another or from one shade to another, and is employed to create shifts in space, distance, volume, and curved or rounded forms to make tattoos more complex.

How much does a color Japanese sleeve cost?

A full-color Japanese irezumi sleeve tattoo is at the top of the pricing spectrum. A Japanese sleeve will cost $1,500-$2,000 USD, even at a comparatively cheap average price of $150 per hour.

Experienced artists and Japanese tattooing specialists will charge more, while a sleeve from a Japanese tattoo artist master like Horiyoshi III could cost upwards of $10,000 USD for a colorful nagasode piece at a Tokyo or Osaka tattoo studio.

Did you enjoy these Japanese wave tattoos? Look for more interesting galleries by clicking on the links below:

Top 59 Japanese Wave Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]