shonen-ai characters with horimono?

koinz99 · July 7th, 2009, 08:54 PM

A short little intro, here...
Hello! My name is Koinz, i've read some of the threads, and this seems to be a pretty nice site.
I actually registered before, but for some reason i couldn't log back in(even though i already posted and everything)...anyway...

I'm currently working on a comedy manga idea right now involving the Horeiki Period(1751-1764) in Japan(during the edo period of 1603-1868). For those who respond, I am willing to provide clarification, as I've researched certain aspects the EDo PEriod for over two years and will probably be able to answere any inquiries.

A little background- my main characters are going to be chivalrous otokodate, guys who gallantly protect the Edo people from local thugs and belligerant samurai, etc. With the governments corruption and the commoners(farmers, artisans , and merchants) fustration of the shogun's(the current ruler/dictator) inability to deal with current problems, the commoners look to these otokodate to help them with their troubles. It'll kinda be like a Robinhood story, and along the lines of Lone WOlf and Cub(Itto the main character helps out commoners on his journey-or kills those he's paid to assasinate).

Now, here's my problem. Right now, i'm making this story between the four main characters a shounen-ai romance(two couples, not no threesomes or foursomes!). A common form of individualistic resistence to the government to the government during this time would be getting tattooed- in Japan, this is known as horimono.

1. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/...bf7a3de297.jpg
-a modern horimono. To give an idea of what one looks like

2. http://japanesetattoos.net/wp-conten...attoos1900.jpg
-horimonos well done yet not as developed because of their age(these are from year 1900). Nonetheless, probably how i would draw mine(in a modified form)

I'm thinking of giving my characters such horimono.
I was thinking- for a shounen-ai(or maybe yaoi, even though i'm leaning away from this), should I draw characters with such tattoos? Whether in the future the story becomes a doujinshi, or just a comic i decide to put on the web, I want to know that if i do put such tattoos on my characters-would they be appealing to others?

So basically why this is such a problem for me- shounen-ai/yaoi characters with full bodied tatoos????!!!!(even though one of the four otokodate characters, whom i will make a cross-dressing kabuki actor, will just have a smaller pictorial tattoo)

If i decide to draw any sexual scenes in, will full bodied tattoos be alright?

Thanks to any who reply.

P.S. -Please feel free to look up horimono for yourselves, too. Oh, and for the 1st sample link picture, the person with the tattoo is a yakuza gang member-gah!). However, the time period in which i'm doing my story(later Edo period), tattoos weren't worn by yakuza gang members, but by firefighters and other tough town folk(artisans and merchants).

Mavin Maverick · July 8th, 2009, 01:30 PM

If you can do the art, then do it. It will be up to you to remain consistant with the tats, but I see no reason why it would be a problem, so long as you have the talent. In the end, the story is yours, and the art is yours, so do what you want with it.

koinz99 · July 8th, 2009, 06:34 PM

Hmmm,alright,thank you! So if i still do the tattoos, but make sure to be consistent. This would be an important component.

...I wish i had a scanner to put some of my ides online, but, i'm too broke right now...

Dr. Ezra · July 9th, 2009, 06:49 PM

Yup. Consistency would probably be your main concern. I would also suggest investing in some fine tip pens.

July 7th, 2009, 08:54 PM	#1
koinz99 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	shonen-ai characters with horimono? A short little intro, here... Hello! My name is Koinz, i've read some of the threads, and this seems to be a pretty nice site. I actually registered before, but for some reason i couldn't log back in(even though i already posted and everything)...anyway... I'm currently working on a comedy manga idea right now involving the Horeiki Period(1751-1764) in Japan(during the edo period of 1603-1868). For those who respond, I am willing to provide clarification, as I've researched certain aspects the EDo PEriod for over two years and will probably be able to answere any inquiries. A little background- my main characters are going to be chivalrous otokodate, guys who gallantly protect the Edo people from local thugs and belligerant samurai, etc. With the governments corruption and the commoners(farmers, artisans , and merchants) fustration of the shogun's(the current ruler/dictator) inability to deal with current problems, the commoners look to these otokodate to help them with their troubles. It'll kinda be like a Robinhood story, and along the lines of Lone WOlf and Cub(Itto the main character helps out commoners on his journey-or kills those he's paid to assasinate). Now, here's my problem. Right now, i'm making this story between the four main characters a shounen-ai romance(two couples, not no threesomes or foursomes!). A common form of individualistic resistence to the government to the government during this time would be getting tattooed- in Japan, this is known as horimono. 1. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/...bf7a3de297.jpg -a modern horimono. To give an idea of what one looks like 2. http://japanesetattoos.net/wp-conten...attoos1900.jpg -horimonos well done yet not as developed because of their age(these are from year 1900). Nonetheless, probably how i would draw mine(in a modified form) I'm thinking of giving my characters such horimono. I was thinking- for a shounen-ai(or maybe yaoi, even though i'm leaning away from this), should I draw characters with such tattoos? Whether in the future the story becomes a doujinshi, or just a comic i decide to put on the web, I want to know that if i do put such tattoos on my characters-would they be appealing to others? So basically why this is such a problem for me- shounen-ai/yaoi characters with full bodied tatoos????!!!!(even though one of the four otokodate characters, whom i will make a cross-dressing kabuki actor, will just have a smaller pictorial tattoo) If i decide to draw any sexual scenes in, will full bodied tattoos be alright? Thanks to any who reply. P.S. -Please feel free to look up horimono for yourselves, too. Oh, and for the 1st sample link picture, the person with the tattoo is a yakuza gang member-gah!). However, the time period in which i'm doing my story(later Edo period), tattoos weren't worn by yakuza gang members, but by firefighters and other tough town folk(artisans and merchants).

July 8th, 2009, 01:30 PM	#2
Mavin Maverick Edit Demon - Will edit for food. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Over There Posts: 962	If you can do the art, then do it. It will be up to you to remain consistant with the tats, but I see no reason why it would be a problem, so long as you have the talent. In the end, the story is yours, and the art is yours, so do what you want with it. __________________ "The smartest wiener dogs are always misunderstood." Haikus are easy, But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator. I loves me some cartoon violence. I don't care if I'm famous or infamous, as long as people know me.

July 8th, 2009, 06:34 PM	#3
koinz99 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Hmmm,alright,thank you! So if i still do the tattoos, but make sure to be consistent. This would be an important component. ...I wish i had a scanner to put some of my ides online, but, i'm too broke right now...

July 9th, 2009, 06:49 PM	#4
Dr. Ezra Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,592	Yup. Consistency would probably be your main concern. I would also suggest investing in some fine tip pens.