Think aloud
There is nothing quite like a good katana tattoo to show people that you mean business, and that’s why I’ve decided to collect these 18 incredible designs inspired the ancient Japanese motifs.
Having these masterpieces adorning your skin will evoke the spirit of the Samurai, channeling their strength, honor, and mystique. Whether you’re a warrior at heart or simply captivated by the elegance of Japanese culture, these tattoos will ignite your imagination and unleash your inner Samurai.
1. Fire and water katana tattoo
The motifs of fire and water make a great contrast which is what makes this such an excellent concept for a tattoo. The placing of the two katanas right in the middle makes it extra special, as it signifies that these ancient weapons can be used both for good and bad.
Which path will you choose?
2. Stunning katana tattoo below the breasts
This katana tattoo design plays off the human body’s anatomy perfectly. Its shape glides naturally across the person’s ribs and almost makes it look stealthy. Which is, of course, one of the characteristics of the samurai.
Additionally, the fact that the blade is shattered looks really cool and it can also carry a lot of meanings, depending on your interpretation.
3. Amazing front chest katana tattoo
Big chest tattoos usually need an imposing motif to work well, especially on a man. This double katana and snake combination definitely delivers, as it’s impossible not to notice it.
Having something like this in the shape of an X across your chest will make you feel like a superhero; or maybe a supervillain, judging by that snake.
4. Jaw-dropping upper arm katana tattoo
This design is another play on the duality of the katana as a weapon. On the one side of the blade, you have the woman and on the other, you have the devilish grinning face with a horn sticking out of its forehead.
It’s quite an attention-grabbing design and, in my opinion, it’s perfect for a shoulder or a bicep.
5. A katana through the head
This tattoo is a little morbid, but that doesn’t change the fact that it looks absolutely stunning. The depth of the black coloring in the woman’s hair is astounding, and the dotwork along the face is beautiful.
It’s a really unique design, but it’s definitely one you should consider if you want to get a katana-inspired tattoo for yourself.
6. Hyper-realistic color katana
Moving on from a dark tattoo done in black, we get to a gorgeous katana full of vivid color. A lot of people love a splash of red or yellow in their tattoos, but if you’re one of those who like things in full color, then this design is made just for you.
Look at how vibrant that katana looks – it’s almost like a painting, except your body is the canvas.
7. Geisha carrying katanas
Geishas and katanas are two of the most popular symbols of medieval Japanese folklore, so it makes perfect sense for somebody to combine them into a single piece of tattoo art.
This drawing is really stunning, and it features so many exquisite details. I particularly like the subtle but powerful red details.
8. Inner forearm katana and mask combo
This stunning mask and katana combo design is perhaps one of the more shocking entries on this list. It’s a very jarring image but that might be the reason why it works so well as a tattoo, especially when done in this beautiful black and grey shading.
Did you notice the subtle details on the spots where the blade exits the skull? I think that’s supposed to be blood. How cool is that!
9. Abstract katana tattoo on the sidearm
Abstract tattoo motifs are always a good choice when you can’t make up your mind. While they can often work great on their own, some people like to combine them with real objects and see where their creativity takes them. For example, this katana tattoo is very subtle but it can tell whatever story you want it to.
And isn’t that the point – your body, your tattoo, your story.
10. Breathtaking katanas on both arms
It’s always a cool thing when you get to pair two different tattoos into a matching set, and personally, I think that this pair of inner forearm pieces is one of the best examples.
Because of their shape, katanas work extremely well along the arms, and there is often space left for various decorations and ornaments. This artist has taken advantage of that and added these beautiful motifs, such as the crescent moons, the eyes, etc.
11. Skeleton samurai with katanas
This striking tattoo does a unique take on the traditional samurai and katana design by making the samurai a skeleton.
I don’t know how many sword-wielding skeletons roamed the streets of ancient Japan, but you’ve got to admit that it looks really cool. It features some lovely shades of grey interspersed with subtle dotwork.
12. A beautiful black and grey katana tattoo
This one is a pretty classic version of the katana tattoo, but that doesn’t mean it lacks charm or creativity. Quite the contrary!
There is a certain elegance to it, and the shading is really beautiful, especially the deep black hues. If you’re somebody who likes a classic, straightforward katana, this is practically custom-made for you. This image has it placed on the upper arm, just below the shoulder, but it’s so versatile that you could have the exact same design almost anywhere on your body.
13. Katana spine tattoo with stunning red details
This is another tattoo that takes advantage of the katana’s unique shape. The long, thin sword fits just really well along the spine.
However, this particular version takes that idea to the next level by adding a couple of breathtaking bright red details. It took me a while, but once I realized that the red circle is actually supposed to be the Japanes flag, I was blown away.
14. A katana and a laughing face
Maybe you’ve noticed that quite a lot of these tattoos combine the katana with various masks and faces. That’s a pretty common theme, but I wanted to include this one because I think it has a rather unique twist to it.
The top half of the face is missing, and the bottom half is laughing maniacally, with the blade sticking right through it. You’ve got to admit that’s a pretty cool idea, which is evident from the fact that it manages to stand out amongst many other tattoos that this person has.
15. Gorgeous katana and blossoms combo tattoo
Cherry blossoms are another famous symbol of Japan and its culture, but you could say that they are on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the katana.
The blossoms represent beauty, gentleness, and love, while the sword stands for bravery, strength, and honor. However, as it’s often the case, these opposites came together to create an absolutely stunning piece of artwork. Perfect for people who feel they have a duality within them.
16. Katana tattoo with text across it
Putting a string of text across the blade of the katana is an amazing idea, but adding flames to it? Now that’s pure genius.
I love how the rectangular frame encapsulates it all, but the handle of the katana is still sticking out of it at the top. It’s like a page from a really cool comic book and it really sets my heart ablaze.
17. Incredible winding katana design with decorative flowers
This artist decided to go a different way and challenge our ideas of what a katana is supposed to look like. Isn’t that amazing? We all know that the blade is meant to be long, straight, and sharp. But here it looks like curvy and winding, yet we can still immediately recognize that it’s a katana.
Not to mention the beautiful shades of pink that cover the steel of the blade and the surrounding flowers. I think this katana tattoo is absolutely perfect for somebody who likes to think outside of the box and have truly unique ink artwork on their body.
18. Remarkable katana tattoo on the back for women
A katana, a dragon, and a bunch of cherry blossoms – this sprawling back tattoo really has all the most famous symbols of Japan wrapped into one.
The artistry behind this design is truly breathtaking, effortlessly combining deep black shading with precision linework and using multiple vibrant colors. If you love Japanese culture and want your tattoo to pay homage to it, there is hardly a better choice for you than this masterpiece.
