Raquel
Traditional and kawaii Japanese
@reiwa.ttt
Tattoos by theme
Japanese folklore tattoos in Barcelona
Demons, theatre masks, guardian lions and lucky charms: Japanese folklore is full of characters that make brilliant tattoos. Each one comes with its own story, and at Minka Tattoo, in Barcelona's Sagrada Familia neighbourhood, we love reinterpreting them in traditional Japanese style as well as in kawaii and neo-traditional versions.
Most of the pieces on this page are by Raquel, our traditional and kawaii Japanese specialist: oni, hannya, kirin, shishi, daruma, maneki-neko and an omamori-style charm with a cat face, among others. Rounding off the gallery are two neo-traditional pieces by Nuky, a daruma wearing a shishi mask and a kingyo goldfish with bells, which show how the same world shifts with the style.
Japanese folklore tattoos: oni, daruma and maneki-neko: work by our artists
Oni and hannya: fierce faces that protect
Oni are the demons or ogres of Japanese folklore: horns, fangs, red or blue skin and often a kanabō, the iron club behind the saying 'oni ni kanabō', which roughly means making the strong even stronger. Feared as they are, in tattooing they're usually worn as guardians that keep bad things at bay. Raquel's red oni with its kanabō takes the idea somewhere kawaii.
The hannya is something else entirely: a Noh theatre mask portraying a woman consumed by jealousy or resentment until she becomes a demon. Its horns and metallic eyes convey rage, but also sorrow, and in tattooing the mask is often associated with warding off bad luck. Raquel has tattooed hannya in colour on the thighs, paired with shishi.
Guardians and good luck: kirin, shishi, daruma and maneki-neko
The kirin is a benevolent creature of Chinese origin linked with good omens, while shishi, the guardian lions that watch over the entrance to many shrines as komainu, stand for protection. On their own or alongside a hannya they make for powerful compositions, like the kirin, hannya mask and shishi that Raquel tattooed across both thighs.
The daruma is a round doll inspired by Bodhidharma, the monk traditionally credited with founding Zen, and it stands for perseverance: knock it over and it rights itself. It's sold with blank eyes; you paint one in when you set a goal and the other when you reach it. The maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, is a symbol of good fortune: in the most common reading, a raised left paw invites customers and a raised right paw invites money.
Traditional, kawaii or neo-traditional
The same character changes a lot depending on the style. Traditional Japanese relies on bold lines, flat colour and backgrounds of clouds, wind or waves; kawaii rounds it off and softens the drama, as in Raquel's red oni. Neo-traditional adds volume, gradients and detail, as in Nuky's two pieces: a daruma wearing a shishi mask and a kingyo, the goldfish that Japan associates with summer and good luck.
Many of these motifs work at a small size and are made for collecting: a red daruma, a maneki-neko with sake bottles and coins or another with a red fish, or an omamori-style charm, modelled on the little fabric pouches sold at temples and shrines, with a cat face and a red tag. All of them are Raquel's, as are the monkey in a kimono and the girl in a kimono with a piglet hood. For small pieces, you can often just walk in.
Styles we do it in
Who tattoos it at the studio
FAQ: japanese folklore tattoos: oni, daruma and maneki-neko
What's the difference between an oni and a hannya?
An oni is a demon or ogre from Japanese folklore, with horns, fangs and often a kanabō club. A hannya is a Noh theatre mask representing a woman turned into a demon by jealousy or rage. Both are often worn as protective symbols, but they tell very different stories.
What does the maneki-neko's raised paw mean?
In the most widespread reading, a raised left paw beckons customers or visitors, while a raised right paw beckons money and good fortune; with both paws up, it's asking for both. It's a charm closely tied to business and often holds a coin or appears with other symbols of prosperity, like the coins and sake bottles in one of Raquel's designs.
Why does a daruma have blank eyes?
It's part of the ritual: a daruma is sold without pupils, and you paint in one eye when you set yourself a goal and the other once you've achieved it. In a tattoo you can show both eyes filled in, as a goal reached, or leave one blank as a reminder of what you're still working towards.
Can I combine several Japanese folklore characters?
Yes, and it's one of the best ways to approach the theme. You can bring them together in one large piece, like the kirin, hannya and shishi Raquel tattooed across both thighs, or build up a collection of small motifs over time. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll help make them work together in style and scale.
Other themes
Sagrada Familia · Barcelona
Got an idea in mind?
Send it over on WhatsApp with a reference, the placement and an approximate size. We will reply with a quote and availability.