Lotus Japanese Tattoo

George Bardadim • 9 February 2018

This Lotus Japanese tattoo is a part of a full sleeve – Lotus flowers and Koi Fish. Its still in progress. Piece by piece this sleeve will be finished soon!


Koi Fish has a very strong symbolic meaning in Japanese Culture, Art and Tattooing. In Japan it is good fortune or luck, Koi also associated with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose, symbolizing good luck, abundance and perseverance. Symbolic in Buddhism is to represent courage. Today the fish are considered to be symbolic of advancement materially and spiritually. Also they are symbols of strength and masculinity – “warrior’s fish”.


Lotus Flower in Japanese art always looks so clean and pure against the background of the dirty pond.


Because of this Lotus flower has come to be associated with purity and beauty.

Let the Way flow onward:

from The Symbolic Way

“Symbols speak where words fall silent.”

Mongaku Shōnin beneath the Nachi Waterfall ukiyo-e illustration
by George Bardadim 10 January 2026
Mongaku Shōnin beneath the Nachi Waterfall is a powerful subject for a Japanese back tattoo. Meaning, symbolism, and composition of a traditional Irezumi backpiece.
Traditional kitsune mask representing transformation and duality in Japanese symbolism
by George Bardadim 27 November 2025
Explore the symbolism of Kitsune in Japanese folklore - from wild fox yokai to Inari’s messengers and how this duality is translated into symbolic Japanese tattoo design.
Orange koi fish Japanese tattoo full sleeve by Bardadim
by George Bardadim 13 December 2024
Orange koi fish Japanese tattoo sleeve symbolizing perseverance, balance, and inner strength. Traditional Irezumi by Bardadim in New York.
Read More …