Please translate before she gets tattoed...

[Itgetsthehoseagain]

Posting on AIBU because I know the traffic is good and I'm not sure where else to post
DD's intentions are to get the attached characters tattooed. I don't have a problem at all with the tattoo - she just wants to be absolutely sure that her choice isn't going to cause problems.
We have no idea what the characters mean, but we do know that they are from the Gorillaz (band) "Dare" artwork. I think that they might be Japanese, but they are horizontal rather than vertical so I'm wondering if it's the artist's interpretation of Japanese characters. I can't find much online at all.
Could anybody translate, please? in advance for thanks!

OP she should be sure to get a very good tattoo artist as fine lines can thicken to almost illegible script.

Why on earth would anyone want to be tattooed with something they don't understand, with no meaning to them? Just asking. Nephew in law had a foreign language phrase, which he had got from some dodgy source, put on his arm. He didn't ask me first, which was a bit silly, since it's a language I am fluent in. It was nonsense. Tattoos and stupidity are forever.

@meido

This is a job for *@TanteRose*!

Aww arigato for thinking of me! I speak Japanese and have a tattoo (NOT a kanji character!)

As the other Japanese/Chinese speakers on the thread have already said, it does indeed mean "challenge" and is a good, strong and meaningful kanji character
But in this case, it is poorly written and wouldn't look good as a tat
People need to do their research before getting inked...and make sure the artist is top notch

And this thread gives me a great opportunity to share this amazing short documentary on traditional Japanese horimono inking art

Enjoy!

Type into Google, ‘dare in Japanese’. What comes up looks pretty much like your tattoo.
My DD did a volunteer trip to Cambodia and came back with a really nice tattoo (and I’m not a tattoo fan) that is something like ‘the stars shine brightest when the sky is darkest’ She got her host family to write/check for her too.

Oh fgs, OP didn't ask 'does anyone like this tattoo idea? Let's be super judgemental about it' 🙄 No idea what it means sorry, but good for her x

Love the tattoo
And the song 🎵

Could be worse. I have a playboy bunny tattoo, to remind me of my youth. I swore blind I would never ever regret it, because I loved playboy stuff (whole room full of playboy things like bedspread and pillows, even clothing ) and I also remember arguing with my Dad over it, saying even if I didn’t like playboy one day, it would remind me of being young and not boring. It’s actually hidden from view most of the time, as it’s on my pelvis, below the waistband of my jeans. But as I got older, I did find myself cringing when new partners seen it for the first time. And scans when I was pregnant. The bunny ears actually stretched when I was pregnant. . Saying that, I don’t really regret it. And it does remind me of my youth. But I’ve not had any more tattoos since! Where is she planning on having it?

I mean where on her body, not where is going for it

@Ivyscarlet86 snap! I’ve got one too!
On my ankle, with “miss october” written underneath in homage to my necklace 😂😂

@ElBandito

I would have a windmill if I wanted a Gorillaz tattoo.

That is a brilliant idea. Thank you - I'll suggest it to her

@Ivyscarlet86

I mean where on her body, not where is going for it

The location hasn't been decided yet. She wants to try and avoid traditionally obvious places, but then tattoos are so common now that every location has been done (a lot) before!

[quote TanteRose]And this thread gives me a great opportunity to share this amazing short documentary on traditional Japanese horimono inking art

Enjoy!

[/quote] Thank you! x

I think the English word 'dare' would be a great basis for a tattoo meaning trying new things.

I don't think it's cultural appropriation to have a tattoo from another culture. Surely it's hommage? I am a huge Francophile. Speak fluent French, used to live in France and if I were going to get a tattoo it would probably be in french because it means a lot to me. I am not French though. I do not see why that's an issue.

@OverTheRubicon

What young person today is enough into Gorillaz to get a tattoo from their album artwork? Or even knows much about album artwork? And every younger person I know is hyper-focussed on things like cultural appropriation and would hesitate even to use a traditional design from another country, let alone using actual characters they can't read. Am assuming this is actually for you (or another older person), in which case i think it's a doubly bad idea.

If you love Gorillaz, get a picture of one of them or something else, not a random set of very badly written kanji.

The band is touring, it's relevant to her childhood, she likes music of all styles and from all eras, she doesn't concern herself with fears of accusations of cultural appropriation because she doesn't consider the Japanese a minority, underdeveloped culture or her own 'culture' to be in any way dominant, and she is making the effort to ensure that the design does have meaning to her. It's not a "random set of...kanji" (although it is, we are learning, "badly written"!) - it's from the artwork of the Gorillaz albums. And it's most definitely not for me, but thanks for the advice about it being a doubly bad idea if it was.

I think a lot of people misinterpret what ‘cultural appropriation’ is…

@sashh

I think the English word 'dare' would be a great basis for a tattoo meaning trying new things.

This is a nice idea .

'Not you, but I can see some anti-JK Rowling people now highly regretting a Harry Potter tattoo.'

This worries me, I really want an 'always' tattoo but am worried about being seen as transphobic.

@Minesril

'Not you, but I can see some anti-JK Rowling people now highly regretting a Harry Potter tattoo.'

This worries me, I really want an 'always' tattoo but am worried about being seen as transphobic.

“Always” the sanitary towels?

I found this (first picture), in case anyone wanted a nosy at what the original Gorillas Dare album artwork looked like that OP’s DD was basing this on (I was curious).

Also, yes OP, lots of people with different interpretations of the floating island windmill from Feel Good Inc that your DD could look at online for ideas. I’ve attached two radically different ones just to show you the wide range.

@Minesril

'Not you, but I can see some anti-JK Rowling people now highly regretting a Harry Potter tattoo.'

This worries me, I really want an 'always' tattoo but am worried about being seen as transphobic.

With wings I presume?

Don't!

@RightYesButNo

I found this (first picture), in case anyone wanted a nosy at what the original Gorillas Dare album artwork looked like that OP’s DD was basing this on (I was curious).

Also, yes OP, lots of people with different interpretations of the floating island windmill from Feel Good Inc that your DD could look at online for ideas. I’ve attached two radically different ones just to show you the wide range.

LOVE the floating windmill! She's not brave enough for colour (yet!) but the floating windmill has got her thinking - thank you!

@Minesril

'Not you, but I can see some anti-JK Rowling people now highly regretting a Harry Potter tattoo.'

This worries me, I really want an 'always' tattoo but am worried about being seen as transphobic.

I'd say it would be seen less transphobic than expressing your support for a sanitary towel.

I have a tattoo in German. I'm not German. Cultural appropriation? Of course it isn't.

And I think an 'Always' tattoo would be lovely. It's perfectly possible to like Harry Potter whilst thinking Rowling is a bit ridiculous. And I definitely wouldn't think of sanitary towels if I saw it.