Mythological Creatures in Japanese Tattooing: Kitsune

October 11, 2023 Thomas Mcmillan

A Kitsune is a legendary Japanese creature, shaped like a fox with magical shape-shifting qualities. It is one of the spiritual entities that belongs to Japanese mythology since the Heian period, but it is also known in other parts of Asia.

In some Japanese legends, Kitsune foxes develop human skills, learn to speak and can take on the human form of a woman or man. It is said that a Kitsune grows a new tail every 100 years, most commonly depicted with one, five, seven or nine tails. It is said that once a Kitsune develops nine tails it ascends to the heavens and transcends into the form of a celestial fox.

Kistune are symbols of intelligence and long life. They are notorious tricksters who are very sociable and derive pleasure from mimicking humans. They often take the form of a beautiful woman to lure in unsuspecting men, with the goal of finding a rich man to marry so they will be able to stay in their human form forever.

Japanese Masks in Traditional Japanese Tattooing

September 15, 2023 Thomas Mcmillan

Traditional Japanese masks are mostly decorative and are available for sale at shrine festivals and events. Others are worn during certain Shinto dances or by actors performing a role on the stage. Most of these masks are archetypes borrowed from myth, ancient dances or Noh theatre, and they have become some of the most popular Japanese masks that you’ll see today.

As the art of traditional Japanese tattoo progressed, it was natural for Japanese tattooers to incorporate masks into their clients tattoos to express certain cultural sentiments and meanings.

Many Masks have been adapted into tattooing through the works of Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting artists of the Edo period, such as Utagawawa Kuniyoshi. Kuniyoshi’s work was very famous, and inspired many Japanese tattooers, as he provided illustrated designs of many Japanese Kabuki actors, myths, as wells as legendary samurai heroes.

Hannya

The most common, and well known in western culture is the Hannya mask. The Hannya mask first appeared in a well-known variety of traditional Japanese musical theatre known as “Noh Theatre” which was popular around this time. The actors in Noh plays would tell stories through gestures while adorned in intricate masks.

The Hannya mask was used in Noh plays to depict a woman who has become so overwhelmed with sorrow, envy, or rage that she takes on the form of a demon, dragon or serpent. Its prominent features are a leering mouth, sombre metallic eyes, sharp fang-like teeth, and two devil style horns.

Oni

Oni masks are most common during the Bean-Throwing Festival, also known as Setsubun, when people wear them for festival performances at shrines. Parents will even wear them at home to frighten their children, while the kids throw beans to scare the “oni” away and invite good luck into the house for the year.

Oni are demons. They are usually depicted as red-faced and angry with long sharp teeth. While this description is similiar to that of Hannya masks, Oni are illustrated more like goblins, and can often represent specific demons from Japanese myth and legend. Many of these have been adapted to suit Japanese tattoo.

Tengu

Tengu are the fearsome demi-gods who protect the mountains. These demon-like creatures are depicted with red faces and angry expressions. But their most obvious feature is a long, red nose. In the past, tengu were more birdlike. As they became human, that beak turned into a nose but kept its long shape. Tengu masks are used for Noh stage plays and certain Shinto festivals. They’re also often used as a decoration since the tengu are thought to frighten bad spirits and bring good luck.

The word Tengu is Chinese in its origins, and derives from the word Tiangou, meaning “Heaven Dog.” Oddly, only the name Tengu is shared between the Japanese and Chinese. In Chinese culture, the Tengu is a dog, whereas, in Japanese culture, the Tengu appears as having crow-like features. Tengu masks, typically used in religious festivals and Japanese Noh theater, show a bird-headed demon.

The Tengu had magical powers that enabled them to appear in people’s dreams, shapeshift, transport themselves, and move through space without ever moving their wings, and speak without moving their lips. Japanese folklore showed the Tengu as shapeshifting protectors of the Dharma who lead corrupt priests astray. In later legend, it was said that when a corrupt monk died, he was sent to the realm of the Tengu, where he was transformed into a phallic-nosed shame-filled monster.\

Kitsune

In Japanese folklore, kitsune (literally the Japanese word for fox) are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shape-shift into human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.

Kitsune masks or fox masks are worn by participants in certain Shinto festivals or by attendees just for fun. Historically, foxes were viewed as magical creatures with the ability to shape-shift. They were also seen as messengers of Inari, the Shinto god of rice, commerce, and prosperity. As a result, they are important figures in some festivals involving this god.

Hyottoko

Hyottoko (火男) is a comical Japanese character, portrayed through the use of a mask. His mouth is puckered and skewed to one side. Some masks have different eye sizes between the left and right eyes. He is often wearing a scarf around his head (usually white with blue dots). The origin of the name comes from "fire" (火, hi) and "man" (男, otoko), because the character is blowing fire with a bamboo pipe, hence the shape of the mouth.

Hyottoko is a silly, childlike figure with a comical expression on his face. His mouth is almost always rounded and skewed to one side, as the stories about him usually involve him blowing on a bamboo pipe. In some traditional Japanese dances during festivals, dancers perform the role of the clown while wearing Hyottoko masks.

Okame

Okame is the face or mask of a woman who has a short nose and swollen round cheeks.

It is said that the name was chosen because the shape of her swollen cheeks looked like a vase (kame in Japanese.)

Okame is like the female version of Hyottoko, and their masks usually appear together. They can be worn by dancers to perform amusing, silly dance steps. Like her male counterpart, Okame is a positive figure and sometimes thought to bring good luck. She is portrayed as a woman with a large, oval-shaped head and smiling eyes.

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES IN JAPANESE IREZUMI: FOO DOG (KOMAINU)

September 7, 2023 Thomas Mcmillan

Foo dogs, the guardian lions of Japanese Irezumi tattooing; also known as Komainu or Shishi, are descendants from Chinese lions also know as “Shi” and considered to be the king of all beasts.

The history of the the Foo Dog is long and complicated, believed to be based on real life lions which were introduced to China during the Han Dynasty, they made their way into different Asian cultures and eventually into Japanese Irezumi tattooing.

Seen as talismans of protection with the ability to ward off demons, their statues are often placed at the entrance of temples and palaces as a form of protection. They are also prevalent in Chinese Buddhism, considered to be a sacred creature and that their sole mission is to keep watch over Buddhist temples.

Guardian Lions are often depicted in pairs, mirroring the concept of yin and yang. They are often tattooed in bright, bold colours, with fiercely bright eyes and a spotted coat.

Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

Suminagashi Projects by James Dean

August 19, 2023 Thomas Mcmillan

Our resident artist James Dean has been doing some incredible Suminagashi pieces lately.

So what is Suminagashi?

“Suminagashi” is the art of paper marbling which appears to have began in Japan around the 12th century. Suminagahshi means ‘floating ink’ and this art form works uniquely well as a tattoo, using the flow of the clients natural form to get a one of a kind piece that sits perfectly on each person.

Check out these beautiful pieces James has completed over the last year, you can see there’s a lot that can be done with a Suminagashi tattoo!

Have a look at some of the new concepts James has been working on, combining Suminagashi with his style of solid black line work.

Click the link below to book in with James to start your own Suminagashi project. These always start with a consultation to discuss design ideas and figure out the correct placement and flow of your floating sumi. These can be big projects that require commitment from both the client and artist, James is here to guide you through the process and you’ll come out with a beautiful and unique piece of art!

Contact James

Mythological creatures in Japanese Irezumi: Dragon (Ryu)

August 9, 2023 Thomas Mcmillan

A very popular character in Japanese Irezumi tattooing is the dragon (Ryu). In Japan, dragons are seen as benefactors and protectors of mankind, symbolising wisdom, strength and bravery.

It is said that the dragon takes on characteristics of animals it encounters throughout its life, so often the features can be quite different. Common features are a body more like snake, eyes like a rabbit or demon, ears of a cow, horns of a stag and scales of a koi. The colour of the dragon can also carry its own meaning, black shows experience and wisdom, green symbolises nature, gold represents value and virtue, yellow dragons are noble companions and blue are gentle and forgiving.

Have a look at some of the dragon sleeves our resident artists TomTom and Horiyama have recently completed.