Japanese Kanji Tattoo Design Service

Your story,
written in ink
that means what
you intend.

Master calligraphers translate your meaning into authentic Japanese kanji — with a certificate of accuracy so your tattoo says exactly what you believe.

Trusted by 4,200+ clients worldwide  ·  7-day turnaround  ·  Certified accuracy

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4,200+ Designs Certified
12 Master Calligraphers
98% Client Satisfaction
7 Days Average Delivery

The Problem

The Ariana Grande Effect

In 2019, pop star Ariana Grande tattooed what she believed read "7 rings" — her hit single — in Japanese kanji on her palm. Japanese speakers instantly recognised it as "shichirin": a small charcoal BBQ grill.

She is not alone. Thousands of people carry permanent ink that says "soup" instead of "strength", "toilet" instead of "peace", or simply nonsense characters assembled for visual effect by a non-native speaker.

A tattoo is permanent. The meaning should be too.

A cautionary comparison

七輪 七輪 · Shichirin
BBQ charcoal grill
七つの輪 七つの輪 · Nanatsu no wa
Seven rings ✓

Two readings. One meaning. Only one belongs on your skin.

Our Promise

Three pillars of
authentic kanji art

Every design we deliver must pass all three — without exception.

01

Accurate Meaning

Native Japanese linguists verify every character. We confirm not just the literal translation but the cultural nuance, register, and regional connotation of your chosen phrase before a single brush stroke is made.

02

Beautiful Calligraphy

Your design is rendered by a practising shodo (書道) master — not generated by a font. Each stroke carries the weight, breath, and imperfection of a human hand trained for decades in the art of brush writing.

03

Certificate of Authenticity

Every completed design ships with a bilingual Certificate of Authenticity — signed by your calligrapher, stamped with their personal hanko seal, and suitable for framing alongside your tattoo reference.

The Process

Three steps to
permanent certainty

Step 01

Tell Us Your Meaning

Share the word, phrase, or feeling you want to capture. Include context — a memory, a mantra, a name — so your calligrapher understands the soul behind the symbol.

Step 02

Our Oracle Translates

A native linguist verifies the translation; a shodo master renders it by hand in your chosen style — kaisho (block), gyosho (semi-cursive), or sosho (grass-cursive). We refine until it is right.

Step 03

Receive Your Art

High-resolution digital file for your tattoo artist, plus your Certificate of Authenticity. Bring both to your session — your artist will thank you for the clarity.

Investment

Choose your
level of mastery

A tattoo is permanent. Choose accordingly.

Basic
$ 39
  • 1–3 character design
  • Verified translation by native linguist
  • Kaisho (block) style calligraphy
  • High-res PNG + vector file
  • 7-day turnaround
  • Digital Certificate of Authenticity
Custom Oracle
$ 149 +
  • Unlimited characters & complexity
  • Full linguistic consultation (30 min call)
  • Bespoke composition — any style or blend
  • All file formats including layered PSD
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Priority 3-day turnaround
  • Calligrapher's original ink on washi paper (posted)

All plans include a money-back guarantee if the translation is disputed by any native Japanese speaker.

Voices

Words from those
who carry our work

"I had researched my kanji for months and still wasn't sure. The Certificate gave me the confidence to sit in the chair. My tattoo artist had never seen anything like it — she was impressed."

Maya R.  ·  Toronto, CA

"The calligraphy is extraordinary. You can feel the humanity in each stroke. What I have on my forearm looks nothing like a computer font — it breathes."

Thomas B.  ·  Berlin, DE

"I chose the Custom Oracle for a full sleeve concept. The 30-minute consultation alone was worth the price — I learned things about the characters I never knew. Absolutely irreplaceable service."

Soo-Jin K.  ·  Seoul, KR