Koi Carp are a common tattoo image for Japanese style tattoos, and there are several meanings and ideologies behind getting a koi tattoo.

Swimming upstream with splashing fast moving water and cherry blossom (sakura) can represent perseverance and strength in adversity, something to represent a challenge in your life, something you are trying to overcome.

Swimming downstream with Japanese maple leaves represents success over a past adversity in your life, an achievement made.

The colour and style of the Koi’s markings don’t seem to have any particular meaning with regard to tattoo design, even though in the world of Koi collecting a lot of emphasis is on the clarity and shape/size of the markings (if any at all, pure bright orange fish are very popular), but this hasn’t filtered through into the world of tattooing, for the simple fact that you can choose whatever design you want. Every Koi tattoo will be perfectly marked as per your request.

There is also talk that a Koi represents Good Luck, Happiness and Wealth - but none of these seem to be as appropriate as perseverance and determination.

Japanese flags shaped like brightly coloured Koi are also flown on “Children’s Day” a national holiday here in Japan.

They use Carp shaped koinobori flags because because of the Chinese legend that if a carp can swim upstream and up a waterfall, when it reaches the top it will become a dragon

The way the flags blows in the wind it looks like they are swimming. There will be a flag for each member of the family, which is the reason why a Koi Tattoo can represent your family, or loved ones.

Just as a little aside, the colours of these flags are important, Black Koi the father, Orange or Red the mother, Blue or White for a boy and red or pink for a girl.