63 Japanese Wolf Tattoo Ideas
Okami is the Japanese word for wolf.
In this gallery many of the designs reference the popular and unique Nintendo video game Okami, one of the most interesting classic titles in Japanese gaming.
For other collectors, Japanese wolf tattoos are linked to Shinto religion and the spirit world Much like the Kitsune (fox), wolves were believed to be messengers between the living and dead and were representative of Kami spirits.
The following 63 Top Japanese Wolf tattoos in this collection showcase a range of flowing Okami style tattoos along with a range of contemporary yobori (machine) tattoos and more traditional Japanese themed body art.
1. Traditional Japanese Wolf Tattoos
2. Contemporary Japanese Style Wolf Tattoos
3. Japanese Wolf Tattoos for the Upper Arm
4. Japanese Wolf Back Tattoo Ideas
5. Japanese Wolf Chest Tattoos
6. Japanese Wolf Tattoos for the Forearm
7. Japanese Wolf Leg Tattoos
8. Colorful Japanese Wolf Tattoos
9. Black and Gray Japanese Wolf Tattoos
Japanese Wolf Tattoo FAQs
Japanese wolf tattoos are linked to Shinto religion and the spirit world. Much like the Kitsune (fox), wolves were believed to be messengers between the living and dead and were representative of Kami spirits.
The mountains of Japan were highly associated with the wolf, believed to be the protector and guardian of the dangerous ranges where both spirits and creatures lived.
The Japanese wolf is now extinct, with the last one believed to have been killed in 1905. There’s are now over two dozen shrines and temples dedicated to the wolf across Japan, while it’s a popular motif in video games, anime, and as mascots for sporting teams on the Island.
For other collectors, the wolf goddess Amaterasu from the video game Okami is by far the biggest tattoo influence for Japanese wolf related ink. She’s portrayed in all manner of tattoo styles, often with red markings reflecting the celestial powers she possesses during the game.
Many wolf tattoos reference the popular Nintendo Video Game Okami, whose pivotal main character is a wolf.
The heroine of Okami, Amaterasu is the Japanese sun goddess who inhabits the form of a legendary white wolf (Shiranui). Amaterasu is “the Okami” tasked with restoring the vivid land of Nippon against the protagonist Yami.
Amaterasu is by far the biggest tattoo influence for Okami related ink. She’s portrayed in all manner of tattoo styles, often with red markings reflecting the celestial powers she possesses during the game.
Many tattoos featuring Ameratsu differ from other tattoos featuring important creatures in Japanese folklore
Okami video game tattoos – especially ones featuring the wolf goddess Ameratsu – are popular due to the cool visual tattoos paying tribute to the ink wash style painting known as sumi-e.
Some Japanese wolf tattoos offer the bold lined, vivid color and thick color tattoos synonymous with traditional Japanese style ink, however they wolf is also a popular motif for use in more contemporary anime and manga themed design.
The new school of Japanese tattooing is commonly referred to yobori, or yo for short. While it describes the process of tattooing with a machine, it may also mean contemporary designs which look similar in linework, theme and application to Neo Traditional style American ink.
