Koshi Inaba (稲葉浩志), the singer and lyricist of the Japanese rock duo B'z, has tattoos on his right wrist, his arm, his stomach and his fingers. In October 2026, the wrist tattoo showed up in off-stage snapshots from his solo tour, and Japanese media picked up the story. Here is what press reports confirm, what only photos show, and which popular claims we could not verify.
Key points
- A tribal-style band circles his right wrist. It is visible in photos B'z posted on their official Instagram in October 2026
- Press reports also mention tattoos on his stomach and fingers. Photos of unknown date show a band and a flame-like design on his left upper arm
- The kanji 志 said to be on his left arm, the dragon said to be on his back, and when or why he got any of his tattoos: none of this is confirmed by Inaba or the press
- We found no statement from Inaba or his management saying he hides his tattoos
Like the style? Browse tribal and blackwork tattoo designs and flame tattoo designs on Tattoo Japan.
Who Is Koshi Inaba of B'z?
- Name
- Koshi Inaba (稲葉浩志)
- Born
- September 23, 1964
- Hometown
- Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture
- Role in B'z
- Vocals and lyrics
- Solo debut
- The album "Magma," January 29, 1997
- Official site
- en-zine (in Japanese)
- @bz_official_insta (B'z official)
B'z is the duo of Inaba and guitarist Tak Matsumoto. Inaba writes the lyrics and Matsumoto writes the music. They debuted on September 21, 1988, and are the best-selling act in Japan by certifications. (Source: Wikipedia, "B'z")
In 2007, B'z became the first music act from Asia to have their handprints and signatures added to Hollywood's RockWalk. (Source: Wikipedia, "B'z")
Inaba also records and tours on his own. In 2026 he is touring Japan with "KOSHI INABA LIVE 2026-2027 ~enV~." (Source: B'z official Instagram)
Koshi Inaba's Tattoos: What We Know
Here is what the press reports, and what only photos show:
| Placement | Design | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Right wrist | Tribal-style band | Instagram, press |
| Stomach | Not clear | Press |
| Fingers | Not clear | Press |
| Left upper arm | Band and flames | Photos only, date unknown |
We could not confirm the tattoo often said to be on his back. More on that at the end of this section.
We also found no record of Inaba explaining what any of his tattoos mean or why he got them. The meanings below are what these motifs commonly stand for in tattooing, not his own explanation.
Right Wrist: A Tribal-Style Band
His right wrist carries a band of black, curling shapes that goes all the way around. It is drawn in a tribal style.
In October 2026, B'z's official Instagram posted off-stage snapshots from his solo shows in Yamanashi (October 2) and Gunma (October 4). Both photos show the tattoo on his right wrist, as the Japanese sports site Nishispo WEB OTTO! reported. (Source: Nishispo WEB OTTO!, October 10, 2026, in Japanese) See the post on Instagram (@bz_official_insta)
Some sites say it is on his left wrist, but the 2026 reports put it on his right.
Tribal is a black-ink style based on traditional indigenous patterns. It is usually chosen to stand for strength or protection.
Left Upper Arm: Is There a Kanji 志?
In this photo you can see a band running around his left upper arm (the arm on the right of the picture). The wrist of the hand holding the cigarette shows a band too. We don't know when the photo was taken, or whether it is mirrored.
Many Japanese fan sites say the kanji 志 sits in the middle of the arm band. We could not confirm this from Inaba, his management or the press, and the photos are not sharp enough to read a character.
志 (kokorozashi) means "will" or "aspiration." It is also the last character of his given name, 浩志 (Koshi), and appears in the title of his 2002 solo album "Shian" (志庵). (Source: Wikipedia, "Koshi Inaba")
Thinking about a kanji tattoo of your own? Compare kanji tattoo designs shared on Tattoo Japan first.
Left Upper Arm: Flames
In the photos, a flame-like design sits just above the band, toward the shoulder. The photo above shows the band and the flames side by side. Its date is unknown too.
Flames usually stand for passion, life force or rebirth.
Stomach and Fingers
The Japanese news site ABEMA TIMES notes that Inaba has already shown tattoos on his arm, stomach and fingers in photos on B'z's Instagram, including a rehearsal shot with a tambourine, live shots and a photo of him holding a merchandise calendar. (Source: ABEMA TIMES, October 7, 2026, in Japanese)
Fan sites point to his navel and his right index finger, but we could not confirm what either design shows.
Back: Unconfirmed
You will also read that he has a dragon on his back. We could not confirm this from Inaba, the press or official photos, so we don't describe it here.
Does Koshi Inaba Hide His Tattoos?
We found no statement from Inaba or his management saying he hides his tattoos. B'z's official Instagram has posted photos where his wrist tattoo is clearly visible.
As in the photo above, he sometimes performs in long sleeves that cover his wrists. Whether that is to hide the tattoo, nobody has said.
In an October 2026 article in the Japanese weekly Josei Jishin, a music writer said that neither Inaba nor Matsumoto posts photos on social media to show off their tattoos. (Source: Josei Jishin via Woman Excite, October 21, 2026, in Japanese)
Many hot springs, pools and gyms in Japan still have rules about visible tattoos. If you are visiting with tattoos, these guides explain why and where you can bathe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Koshi Inaba's Tattoos
Are Koshi Inaba's tattoos real?
Very likely. Nothing settles it for certain, but several Japanese outlets have reported on them as tattoos in photos posted by B'z's official Instagram, and no report suggests they are stickers or temporary. We found no comment from Inaba himself.
When did Koshi Inaba get his tattoos?
We found no record of him saying when. Some Japanese fan sites say he started in the late 1990s, but we could not find any statement or report behind that claim.
Why did he get them?
He has not explained it, as far as we could find. Some sites guess at a meaning because 志 is part of his name, but that is their reading, not his.
Does Tak Matsumoto have tattoos?
Yes. In October 2026, B'z's official Instagram posted an off-stage photo from a show by Matsumoto's band TMG (October 14, Zepp Osaka Bayside). Josei Jishin reported that the tattoo on his left arm is visible in it. (Source: Josei Jishin via Woman Excite, October 21, 2026, in Japanese)
Summary: Koshi Inaba's Tattoos at a Glance
What the press confirms: a tattoo on his right wrist, which also appears in snapshots from his October 2026 solo tour, and tattoos on his stomach and fingers. What only photos show: a band and a flame-like design on his left upper arm, in pictures of unknown date.
What we can't confirm: the kanji 志 on his arm, a dragon on his back, and when or why he got any of them. If a tribal or flame design appeals to you, compare designs first, then talk it through with a studio.
*Based on publicly available information as of October 2026.
