Looks good to me, solid traditional piece.

Traditional Japanese tattoos are interpretations of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, some of which are hundreds of years old.

@Twitch 137494 wrote:

Thanks! From what I can see in the pictures, traditional style would use a more ‘traditional’ style of clouds and waves don’t use as striking colours, where as neo traditional would use brighter colours to make the main pieces stand out more against a background with different shaped clouds such as swirls?

Basically, Neo Japanese styles are more bright and ‘jumping off the skin’. Although the technical tattooing is very very good, it does not flow quite so well as traditional Japanese. It really is just a matter of preference.

That guy you mentioned does not do traditional Japanese but he does do really good stuff in the other style. If you are willing to travel a little, I can recommend someone in Leeds.

3/4 sleeves are the epitome of aesthetic beauty in Japanese tattooing. Pick one motif, and have a specialist in Japanese tattooing design your sleeve.

IMO Simple traditional Japanese is the most authentic and beautiful style but some people prefer more modern styles. Choose which ever style you prefer.

For your arms just go with one theme, if you like Koi then have Koi, they can be paired with momiji swimming upward, one koi can be paired with botan, sakura is another option.

Cranes go with botan, matsu or sakura. As they are an Auspicious animal they are often depicted with other auspicious animals, most harmoniously with a Kame (turtle).

A classic combination with a geisha is sakura.

There are numerous other Japanese options which I am sure you are aware of from Buddhist Kannon to mythical creatures like Karajishi, Kirin and Baku.

If you are in Liverpool and would be willing to travel to Leeds. Diego Azaldegui does some of the best traditional Japanese in anywhere in the world if you like his style.

You can send pictures through private message.

If it is below the elbow then it would be a 3/4 sleeve, are you having the inner side of the arm done too, as in a proper sleeve? Both my sleeves were done in about 12 hours. What is the motif?