Last Updated on January 11, 2025 by “Talha Saqib”
Tattoos are commonly used in anime on strong characters or those who play a relatively important role in the story. Japan is known to have banned tattoos because they are often associated with the Yakuza, crime gangs. However, in reference to anime, tattoos have been used to represent many different types of characters. Today, we will reveal our list of favorite anime characters with tattoos.
Scar (Full Metal Alchemist)
Scar is portrayed as a villain for a while in the series. He is a survivor of the Ishvalan Civil War and a serial killer who targets State Alchemists. He is described as a vicious and angry man, exacting revenge on the people who destroyed his homeland.
Draken (Tokyo Revengers)
Ken Ryuguji is the vice-captain of the first generation of the Tokyo Manji Gang. He is one of the founding members of Toman and is often wild. He’s known to keep the leader of the gang, Mikey, in control. Additionally, he often shows his maturity and has a caring nature.
Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Ryomen Sukuna is a cursed spirit, often called the King of Curses. He is an antagonist in the anime, living inside Itadori Yuji’s body after Yuji ate his cursed finger. He is cold-hearted and is seen making fun of Yuji when he’s in trouble.
Akaza (Demon Slayer)
Akaza holds the place of Upper-Rank Three and is a major antagonist. He is strong and enjoys battles, looking down on anyone who is weaker than him.
Ace (One Piece)
Portgas D. Ace was a protagonist and the sworn brother of Luffy and Sabo. He was the second-division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. He was intelligent, polite, and often reckless like Luffy, making hasty decisions and not backing up from a fight.
Renji (Bleach)
Renji Abarai is a Shinigami and the lieutenant of the 6th division of the Gotei 13. He seems very cocky but is really determined and willing to give his life for what he believes in.
Revy (Black Lagoon)
Rebecca Lee is the main protagonist of Black Lagoon. Revy is described as a sarcastic, aggressive, and confident person. She believes that she can get her way by using brute force and is sadistic, not hesitating to harm anyone.
Valmet (Jormungand)
Sophia Valmer was a Finnish Rapid Deployment Force Officer. She comes from a notable military Finnish family and worked hard to get a place in the FRDF. She blames herself for the loss of her men and seeks to avenge them.
Nicolas Brown (Gangsta)
Nicolas is one of the protagonists of Gangsta. He is a dead twilight and always wears his tag on his neck. He is mostly quiet and aloof as he doesn’t want to go to the trouble of communicating with people who don’t understand sign language.
Medusa Gorgon (Soul Eater)
Medusa was one of the Gorgon Sisters, a witch, and a primary antagonist of the series. While under disguise, she was a very caring and helpful member of the academy. However, in reality, she’s a selfish individual who uses the people around her.
Tatsu (Gokushufudou)
Tatsu is the main character of the anime The Way of the House Husband. He used to be a part of a yakuza gang but retired to help his wife. Tatsu is caring and takes everything seriously, he also sometimes seems intimidating due to his yakuza nature.
Nojiko (One Piece)
Nojiko is the adoptive sister of Nami, they were both adopted by Bell-mere. She keeps herself out of trouble and takes care of the other people on the island. She is supportive of Nami and is an ally of the Straw Hat pirates.
Kamina (Gurren Lagann)
Kamina was the founder and leader of Team Gurrenn and the deuteragonist of the first arc of the show. He seems hot-headed and arrogant, but he is really determined, supportive of his friends, and even rather intelligent.
Other characters, who don’t have tattoos, but have markings that trigger when they use a special ability, are:
Boruto (Boruto)
Boruto Uzumaki is a shinobi and the main protagonist of the show Boruto. he is similar to his father, Naruto, in how energetic he is, but he is more mature than his father was at his age. His marks allow him to access the powers of Momoshiki
Ogun Montgomery (Fire Force)
Lastly, Ogun is a member of the special fire force company 4. He is mature, empathetic, and committed to protecting the people of Tokyo. As a third-generation pyrokinetic, he has the ability to create and use his own flames, for which he uses flamy ink which spreads markings across his body.
Honorable Mentions
Ban (The Seven Deadly Sins) – Ban’s tattoo, the mark of the Fox’s Sin of Greed, is located on the left side of his waist. It represents his sin and immortality, playing into his backstory of enduring eternal life and the quest for redemption, intertwined with his adventurous and rogue spirit.
These are our favorite anime characters with tattoos. Although all of them are different, they are all mostly liked by the fans. You can also check out our favorite male characters with white hair. For more anime content, stay tuned to Retrology.
Renji Abarai is a Shinigami and the lieutenant of the 6th division of the Gotei 13. He appears cocky but is deeply determined and willing to sacrifice for his beliefs. His body is covered in tribal tattoos, symbolizing his strength and resilience.
Tattoos in anime often signify strength or importance in the storyline. They can represent a character’s past, affiliations, or special abilities. In Japan, tattoos are also associated with the Yakuza, adding a layer of intrigue or danger to the character.
Sophia Valmer, known as Valmet, was a Finnish Rapid Deployment Force Officer. She comes from a notable military family and seeks to avenge her fallen comrades. Her tattoos symbolize her military background and personal vendetta.
Draken, or Ken Ryuguji, is the vice-captain of the Tokyo Manji Gang. He is a founding member and often keeps the gang’s leader, Mikey, in check. Draken is known for his maturity and caring nature despite his wild demeanor.
Portgas D. Ace is the sworn brother of Luffy and Sabo and the second-division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. He is intelligent, polite, and often reckless, similar to Luffy. Ace’s tattoos include a large “ASCE” on his arm, symbolizing his brotherhood.
Nicolas Brown is one of the protagonists of Gangsta and a dead twilight. He wears a tag around his neck and communicates primarily through sign language. Nicolas is quiet and aloof, often avoiding unnecessary interactions.
Revy, or Rebecca Lee, is the main protagonist of Black Lagoon. She is sarcastic, aggressive, and confident, often using brute force to get her way. Revy’s tattoos add to her tough and rebellious persona.
Scar is a survivor of the Ishvalan Civil War and a serial killer targeting State Alchemists. He is portrayed as a villain seeking revenge for his destroyed homeland. His tattoos are alchemical symbols on his arm, which he uses to deconstruct matter.
Sukuna is a cursed spirit known as the King of Curses and an antagonist in the series. He resides inside Itadori Yuji’s body after Yuji consumes his cursed finger. Sukuna is cold-hearted and often mocks Yuji during difficult situations.
