Rui Hachimura has one known tattoo: the Japanese character 八 (hachi, "eight") on the inside of his left forearm. He got it in Hawaii, chose the spot after dreaming about it, and calls eight his lucky number. His younger brother, B.League forward Allen Hachimura, has a much bigger black-and-grey piece on his left arm.
Key points
- Rui has one tattoo: the kanji 八 (eight) on his inner left forearm. The Lakers called it "Rui's only tattoo" in a February 2024 video
- He got it in Hawaii. He had planned to put it somewhere else, then dreamed it was on his left arm
- 八 is the first character of his surname, and 8 is the jersey number he wore in high school, with the Wizards and for Japan
- He signed with the LA Clippers in July 2026 and kept No. 28, the number he wore with the Lakers
- His brother Allen (Aren) Hachimura has a tiger, clocks, a dove and a rose in black and grey on his left arm
Want something similar? Browse Chinese character (kanji) tattoo designs and number tattoo designs on Tattoo Japan.
Who Is Rui Hachimura?
- Name
- Rui Hachimura (八村 塁)
- Born
- February 8, 1998, in Toyama, Japan
- Height
- 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
- Position
- Forward
- NBA draft
- 2019, 1st round, 9th overall (Washington Wizards)
- Team
- LA Clippers (since July 2026)
- Jersey
- No. 28
- @rui_8mura
Hachimura played college basketball at Gonzaga and became the first Japanese player ever taken in the first round of the NBA draft when the Wizards picked him ninth in 2019. (Source: Wikipedia)
He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in January 2023 and spent three and a half seasons there. In July 2026 he signed a two-year deal with the LA Clippers. (Source: NBA.com, July 7, 2026)
With the Clippers he wears No. 28, the same number he wore with the Lakers. (Source: Sports Hochi via Yahoo! Japan News, July 10, 2026, in Japanese)
His name, for the curious: 八村 is read Hachimura, and 八 (hachi) means eight. His given name 塁 (Rui) means "base," a name chosen by his grandfather, who loved baseball. (Source: Wikipedia)
Rui Hachimura's Tattoo: 八 on His Left Forearm
On February 27, 2024, the Lakers posted a short "Tattoo Tour" video with the caption "Learn the meaning behind Rui's only tattoo." (Source: Los Angeles Lakers on X)
The tattoo is the single character 八 in black ink, on the inside of his left forearm, between the wrist and the elbow.
Here is a quick comparison with his brother's tattoo, which is covered further down:
| Player | Placement | Design |
|---|---|---|
| Rui | Inner left forearm | Kanji 八 (eight) |
| Allen | Left arm, shoulder to elbow | Tiger, clocks, dove, rose |
Why 八? His Surname and His Lucky Number
In the video, he explains that 八 is "Hachi," the first part of his last name, and that "Hachi actually means eight in Japanese." Eight is the number he has always worn on his jersey, "and it's my lucky number." (Source: Los Angeles Lakers on X, February 27, 2024)
The number shows up elsewhere in his branding. His Instagram handle, rui_8mura, swaps 八 for the digit 8. His "Black Samurai" logo, which appears on his signature G-SHOCK watch, combines 八 with the silhouette of a Japanese sword to form an H for Hachimura. (Source: Impress Watch, August 21, 2024, in Japanese)
In Japan, 八 is traditionally seen as a lucky number because the character widens toward the bottom, a shape linked to growing prosperity (suehirogari). We found no record of Hachimura saying this was part of his reason.
Inked in Hawaii, Placed by a Dream
"I got this tattooed in Hawaii," he says at the start of the video. He first planned to put it somewhere else, but one morning he woke up from a dream in which the tattoo was on his left arm, so he decided to put it there.
We found no record of him naming the studio or the artist.
Why Rui Hachimura Wears 8, and Then 28
No. 8 at Meisei, the Wizards and Team Japan
Hachimura wore No. 8 at Meisei High School in Sendai and with the Washington Wizards. With Japan's national team he wore 23 through the Asian qualifiers, then switched to 8 before the 2019 World Cup. At the time, he said he had always felt attached to 8 because of his name, and called it his number. (Source: Daily Sports, July 31, 2019, in Japanese)
No. 28 with the Lakers and the Clippers
When he joined the Lakers in January 2023, No. 8 was retired for Kobe Bryant. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said Hachimura told her he picked 28 "because of No. 2 for Gianna and No. 8 for Kobe." (Source: ESPN via ABC7 Los Angeles, February 1, 2023)
Japanese media have also tied 28 to his birthday, February 8. He kept 28 when he moved to the Clippers in 2026. (Source: Sports Hochi via Yahoo! Japan News, July 10, 2026, in Japanese)
His brother wears 8 as well: Allen Hachimura is No. 8 for the Kobe Storks. (Source: B.League player page)
If you are drawn to numbers and symbols of good fortune, see our guide to lucky charm tattoos and their meanings.
Rui's Brother Allen Hachimura and His Arm Tattoo
Rui's younger brother is Allen Hachimura (八村阿蓮, also romanized Aren), a forward in Japan's B.League. He followed Rui to Meisei High School, played at Tokai University, and made his B.League debut with the SunRockers Shibuya as a special designated player in the 2020–21 season. (Source: Basketball King, May 28, 2025, in Japanese)
After four seasons with the Gunma Crane Thunders, he joined the Kobe Storks in 2025. Kobe won the second-division B2 title in 2025–26 and moves up to the new top division, B.PREMIER, for 2026–27. Allen's contract runs through 2027–28. (Source: Basketball King, May 23, 2026, in Japanese)
- Name
- Allen Hachimura (八村 阿蓮)
- Born
- December 20, 1999, in Toyama Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
- Position
- Small forward
- Team
- Kobe Storks (No. 8)
- @allen_hachi
(Profile source: B.League player page)
Allen Hachimura's Left-Arm Tattoo
Allen's left arm is covered from the shoulder to around the elbow. In the photo he shared on Instagram, you can make out a tiger, clock faces, a dove and a rose, all shaded in black and grey with no color.
We found no record of him explaining what the designs mean. These are the meanings the motifs commonly carry:
| Motif | Common meaning |
|---|---|
| Tiger | Strength, courage, protection |
| Clock | Time, life, mortality |
| Dove | Peace, hope, freedom |
| Rose | Love, beauty, passion |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rui Hachimura's Tattoo
How many tattoos does Rui Hachimura have?
One, as far as is known. The Lakers introduced the 八 on his left forearm as "Rui's only tattoo" in February 2024, and we found no later report or statement about a new one.
What does Rui Hachimura's tattoo mean?
It is the kanji 八, which means eight. It is the first character of his surname, Hachimura, and eight is his lucky number and his longtime jersey number.
Does Rui Hachimura cover his tattoo during games?
You usually can't see it. He wears an arm sleeve on his left arm in warmups and games, which covers it. (Source: Basketball King, February 28, 2024, in Japanese)
In the photo above, his left arm is in a black sleeve. We found no statement from him saying he wears it to hide the tattoo.
Why does Rui Hachimura wear 28?
No. 8 is retired by the Lakers for Kobe Bryant. According to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, Hachimura chose 28 for Gianna Bryant's No. 2 and Kobe's No. 8. He kept 28 with the Clippers.
Who is Rui Hachimura's brother?
His younger brother is Allen Hachimura, born December 20, 1999, who plays for the Kobe Storks in Japan's B.League. Rui is the oldest of four: he has one brother and two sisters. (Sources: B.League; Wikipedia)
When did Allen Hachimura get his tattoo?
We found no statement from him on when he got it. It was already there by the summer of 2024: a press-conference photo Jbasket magazine posted on Instagram that year shows it below his left sleeve. See the post on Instagram (@jbasket_jp)
The Bottom Line on Rui Hachimura's Tattoo
Rui Hachimura has a single tattoo: the kanji 八 on the inside of his left forearm. He got it in Hawaii, picked the spot after a dream, and chose 八 because it starts his surname and stands for 8, the jersey number he calls his lucky number. With the Lakers and now the Clippers he wears 28, which Jeanie Buss says he chose for Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
His brother Allen wears a large black-and-grey sleeve with a tiger, clocks, a dove and a rose. If you are weighing a small kanji or number piece, or a larger black-and-grey design, compare designs first, then talk it through with a studio.
If you want to cover an arm tattoo for a day in Japan, at an onsen, a gym or a job, an arm cover or skin-tone tape is the simplest option. Rules differ by facility, so check whether covered tattoos are accepted before you go. The links below go to Amazon Japan (amazon.co.jp).
* Some links include affiliate advertisements (PR).
Hadakakushi Arm Covers — 1 Pair
Long arm covers for covering tattoos. The linked option is a black pair.
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Foundation Tape — Standard
Tattoo cover tape, 7.5 × 9.5 cm. Compare five shades with one sheet of each.
View on Amazon*Based on publicly available information as of October 2026.
