Hello everyone,

I thought I’d start this blog with a topic that is very close to my heart: frogs.

If you’re already familiar with my work, you probably know that I have a passion for frogs. I’ve been drawing and tattooing them since I began my journey into the world of tattooing about 14 years ago.

I’ve always loved animals, and when I started studying ukiyo-e prints, I noticed that frogs appeared frequently in Japanese art. I was immediately fascinated by them. Among the artists who famously depicted these charming creatures are the great masters Kawanabe Kyōsai and Katsushika Hokusai.

Frogs are deeply rooted in the imagery of Japanese art and culture. For anyone interested in manga and anime, Naruto is an obvious example. However, there is another important aspect that makes frogs particularly meaningful in Japan.

The Japanese word for frog, kaeru (蛙), is pronounced exactly the same as the verb kaeru (帰る), which means “to return home.”

This double meaning is commonly used in proverbs, expressions, and wordplay.

🐸 Some of the most famous examples:

Kaeru ga kaeru (蛙が帰る)
A famous pun that literally means “the frog returns home.”

Returning fortune
Giving someone a small frog-shaped charm, often called fuku kaeru, is considered good luck because it symbolizes both the return of good fortune and the ability to overcome difficulties.

Transformation and change
When written with the character 変える, kaeru means “to change” or “to transform.” This meaning is sometimes used by artists, businesses, and creative agencies to suggest positive transformation and renewal.

I hope you enjoyed these little curiosities about frogs. They’ve been a constant source of inspiration throughout my tattooing journey, and I still find them just as fascinating today.

See you in the next article!

— Claudio Oldswords

Frogs