If you are a Naruto fan, you must know who we are going to talk about. Even if you don’t know, let us introduce you to one of the most powerful and incredible characters from the series, Gaara from the Sand Village. He is praised and loved for his unimaginable strength and powers. Furthermore, Gaara’s eye tattoo becomes the most noticeable feature of his character.
In this article, you will learn more about Gaara, his character development, and the symbolic meaning behind his forehead tattoo.
(Note: Beware of the Spoilers ahead)
Gaara from Naruto
Naruto is one of the most popular and successful anime franchises of its time. Its popularity is not only limited to Japan but has crossed borders worldwide. That said, the Naruto series is more than just an anime for its fans.
The fans show their love and support by getting hands-on special editions of manga, by cosplaying their favorite characters, or buying their merchandise. However, with the rise in popularity of the tattoo industry, fans tend to show their love by getting tattooed with their favorite characters’ faces or symbols.
Many fans claimed to be emotionally attached to the series characters where Gaara from the village of sand is notably prominent. For this character, the tattoo on Gaara’s forehead is a big feature. Therefore, many people are attracted to it and want to know, “What does Gaara’s tattoo mean?”
Is Gaara a Hero Or a Villain?
Gaara was first introduced as a negative character with only the desire to kill everyone, but his character evolved with time as we got to know more about his backstory and experiences.
He was known as the literal monster with no love or compassion by the people of the sand village. He was born premature and lost his mother. As the one-tailed beast sealed inside of him, he was seen as the monster by other kids. That’s why he had no friends. Even his father wanted to kill him.
As Gaara was surrounded by hatred, his uncle, Yashamaru, became his hope of light. He taught Gaara about love, and in return, Gaara trusted and loved him with all his heart.
What is Gaara's Story?
The tables turned when Gaara got betrayed by his uncle when he came to kill Gaara. Yashamaru even told him that his mother hated him, and that’s why she named him Gaara—the one who only loves himself.
It broke Gaara’s spirit, and the beast took over his consciousness. That’s when the sand gave him the red tattoo, 愛 (ai), on the left of his forehead. It is the kanji for love, symbolizing “demon loving only himself.”
What's Gaara's Tattoo Meaning?
The tattoo is the Japanese character (ai), which means “love.”
Gaara’s sad and tragic story behind that tattoo makes it significant to its character. It also became a symbol for fans to connect with Gaara and relate to his hardships.
The meaning behind that tattoo is as simple as the person who is constantly looking for love. Or it can be complicated and deep as the person who lost love in his life relied on his strength and loved himself.
Is Gaara's Tattoo For You?
So, now you know about Gaara’s tattoo meaning and might be feeling relatable to his story, hardships, and life, but should you get his tattoo?
Here is the list of things that you would like to consider before getting tattooed with Gaara’s symbol.
Japanese Tattoo Culture & History
You might want to have a tattoo with a Japanese character, but you must think twice before flaunting it publicly in Japan. Before getting a foreign language tattoo, it would be best to know the origin and the culture of the people using that language.
Origins of Japanese Tattoo Culture
The culture of tattoos in Japan is strongly influenced by its complex and extensive history. In the 8th century, tattoos were only given to criminals as punishment for the crimes they had committed.
The markings were made on the criminal’s forehead so everyone could know about their crimes. Tattooed people were seen as a bad influence on society, leading to them being rejected or ostracized by their own families.
Source: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/crime_and_punishment_in_japan _during_the_edo_period_included_tattooing_the_
Evolution of Tattooing in Japan
Later on, woodblock tattooing became famous again in Japan, but it was not for too long. By the end of the 17th century, tattoos were again associated with gangs when Yakuza used skin art to pledge their loyalty and commitment to the gang. That’s why tattooing was banned in Japan during the Meiji period.
However, the Japanese were allowed to tattoo foreigners, and that’s when people set up tattoo shops in Yokohama. In today’s world, tattoo fever is rising in Japan as it is seen as a symbol of toughness and strength.
But, even today, the stigma toward tattoos is still present in the deep-rooted psyche of Japan. That is the reason most people cover their tattoos in public, or they will get a lot of side-eyes.
Gaara Tattoo Meaning & Significance
A tattoo is something so close to one’s personality and heart. Not only does it make you look tough and powerful, but it also gives the inside look to the people around you. So, you might not want to have a tattoo that gives off a negative image of you.
As for Gaara’s tattoo, it might have a negative meaning as you lost your loved ones before, and now, you don’t believe in it, yet only rely on yourself. You are inclined more toward self-love rather than giving love to others.
But don’t worry; this tattoo has a deep positive meaning as the literal meaning of 愛 (ai) is “love”. That love can be for yourself or the people around you. Or, you are strong enough to find love again and spread it to others, as well.
Personal Preferences
If you are considering getting tattooed with Gaara’s kanji for love, ask yourself if that is what you want. Tattoos must be meaningful to you, so if you love Gaara or find yourself relatable to his story, please don’t wait! It is right for you.
Whether people think or not, you must be the one to decide for yourself because that’s the hidden meaning behind Gaara’s tattoo, the ultimate self-love!
Gaara Tattoo Ideas
So now you have decided to get tattooed with Gaara’s kanji for love, it would be best to look for some ideas to make it more interesting. The artist and the fans got so creative with the basic Japanese initials and merged them with a number of designs according to their personality and preferences.
Minimalist
How about a minimal tattoo with Gaara’s left eye and the (ai) written on his forehead? This design can be perfect for people who love neat and simple tattoos.
Gaara with A Teddy
Teddy Bear is the forever friend of little kids, so this tattoo will depict Gaara’s childhood trauma. And, what can be best for a kid to overcome a trauma? Yes! A hug to Teddy.
Gaara's Eyes with Cracks
Gaara’s kanji for love with his eye, surrounded by the cracks, is best to show his struggles and power. It is also a memorable and powerful tattoo for the fans who strongly relate to him.
Kanji Character
It is great to even have the simple Kanji character 愛 on your arm, forearm, leg, behind the ears, or wherever you want to get inked on. This symbol perfectly depicts Gaara’s life and character, so getting it in red is the best option for his fans.
Conclusion:
Gaara is one of the most popular and memorable characters in the anime world. Due to the crazy anime fever, no one can be saved from becoming a die-hard fan of the Naruto Shippuden series and its characters.
The tragic and sad story of Gaara captured a lot of fan’s hearts and eyes. Most of them got attached to his character in no time. That’s why getting Gaara and his kanji for love tattoos is becoming an incredible way for fans to get connected to the character.
However, the article covers everything you need to know before getting tattooed. Ultimately, it’s always your call whether, how, or which tattoo design is best for you!
Happy tattooing with lots of self-love!
Find more amazing tattoo ideas on HYPERSKIN TATTOO’s tattoo designs. Otherwise, we also provide tattoo shop guides for your reference.
FAQs About Gaara's Tattoo
What does Gaara's tattoo mean?
Gaara's tattoo is its kanji character 愛 (ai), which literally means self-love. However, it symbolizes his drive to live up to his namesake, "the demon who loves only himself."
What is Gaara's kanji for love?
Gaara's tattoo 愛 on the left of his forehead is his kanji for love. He believed and loved only his maternal uncle, but when the uncle betrayed him, he lost his belief in love. He relied only on his powers and loved only himself.
Is Gaara’s tattoo Chinese?
Gaara's tattoo is of Japanese origin; however, in Chinese, the word (ai) has the same meaning (love) as in Japanese.
From where did Gaara get his tattoo?
The beast sealed inside Gaara gave him the tattoo with the sand when he killed his maternal uncle, Yashamaru, whom he only loved and trusted.
