Ryuta Shibuya (渋谷龍太, also written Shibuya Ryuta), the lead singer of the Japanese rock band SUPER BEAVER, has tattoos across his body: a dragonfly and kanji numerals below his ear, a crest-like mark at the back of his neck, a peony on his stomach, and small designs on his hands and fingers. He got his first one at 23, and in a 2025 essay he wrote that he got them simply because he liked them. Here is what each tattoo shows, what he has said about them, and what is known about them being hidden on Japanese TV.
Key points
- A dragonfly and kanji numerals usually read as "16000" below his ear, a crest-like mark at the nape of his neck, and a peony on the left side of his stomach
- Three tiny triangles on the back of his hand, plus tattoos on his right fingers, arms and shoulders
- In a 2012 post, he said he wanted the peony to carry a protective charm for his parents
- There is no report that he has removed any tattoos. What reports say was hidden on TV is his neck tattoos. No source says he covers his right hand
Thinking of something similar? Browse peony tattoo designs and kanji tattoo designs on Tattoo Japan.
Who Is Ryuta Shibuya of SUPER BEAVER?
- Name
- Ryuta Shibuya (渋谷龍太)
- Nickname
- Bu-yan (ぶーやん)
- Born
- May 27, 1987
- Hometown
- Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Band
- SUPER BEAVER (vocals)
- Solo project
- 澁谷逆太郎 (Shibuya Gyakutaro)
- X and Instagram
- @gyakutarou (X), @gyakutarou (Instagram)
SUPER BEAVER formed in Tokyo in April 2005 and made its major-label debut on Epic Records in June 2009 with "Shinkokyu," an ending theme for the anime Naruto Shippuden. The band left its label and management in 2011, went independent, played its first solo show at the Nippon Budokan in 2018, and re-signed with Sony Music Labels in 2020. (Source: SUPER BEAVER official biography, in Japanese)
Anime fans may also know the band from "Hitamuki," an opening theme for season 6 of My Hero Academia, and from the theme songs of all three live-action Tokyo Revengers films. (Source: Wikipedia)
Shibuya also writes an essay series for the Japanese site Da Vinci Web, and he made his acting debut in the 2025 film Night Flower. (Source: Real Sound, August 13, 2025, in Japanese)
Ryuta Shibuya's Tattoos and What They Mean
These are the tattoos you can see in his own posts or that Japanese media have reported. The right-hand placements (fingers and upper arm) are our reading of his photos.
| Placement | Design |
|---|---|
| Below the ear | Dragonfly, kanji numerals |
| Nape of the neck | Crest-like mark |
| Left side of stomach | Peony |
| Back of the hand | Three small triangles |
| Right fingers | Small symbols |
| Right upper arm | Color Japanese-style piece |
The Japanese weekly Josei Jishin reported in July 2026 that he has tattoos all over his body, including his stomach, shoulders, shoulder blades, arms and the backs of his hands. (Source: Josei Jishin, July 2, 2026, in Japanese)
The peony is the only design whose meaning we found him explaining. For the others, the meanings below are what those motifs commonly stand for, not his own explanation.
Below His Ear: A Dragonfly and "16000" in Kanji
Below his ear, running down his neck, is a dragonfly with kanji numerals written vertically underneath. In a photo he posted on Instagram in October 2024, you can read 一六〇〇 before his fingers cover the rest. Fans usually read it as 一六〇〇〇, or 16,000. See the post on Instagram (@gyakutarou)
According to Josei Jishin, this part of his neck first had only the dragonfly and the numerals, and bright red flowers and other designs were added later.
In Japan, the dragonfly is known as kachimushi, the "victory bug," because it only flies forward. Samurai favored it as a good-luck symbol, and in tattoos it often stands for moving forward and winning.
We found no record of him explaining the number. A claim that it was the band's fee for their first live-house gig is repeated across Japanese fan sites, but we couldn't find any statement or report to back it up.
The Back of His Neck: A Crest-Like Mark
At the base of his neck, just below the hairline, is a round mark with a flower-like shape inside, similar to a Japanese family crest (kamon). You can see it in a photo of him tying back his hair that he posted on Instagram in December 2019. See the post on Instagram (@gyakutarou)
Kamon are emblems passed down through Japanese families. We found nothing from him on whether this is his own family's crest or why he chose it.
Left Side of His Stomach: A Peony
A peony covers the left side of his stomach, from his side down toward his hip. It shows in a black-and-white live photo he posted on Instagram in June 2024, with his shirt pulled up. See the post on Instagram (@gyakutarou)
In August 2012, a fan asked him on Twitter (now X) what flower his tattoo was, and he answered that it was a peony. When asked why, he replied that he wanted to put his parents' omamori, Japanese protective charms, into a peony, a flower he linked to eternal youth and long life. (Sources: his reply naming the flower; his reply explaining why, both in Japanese)
The photo the fan was asking about has since been deleted, so we couldn't confirm which peony he meant.
The peony is often called the "king of flowers" and is one of the most popular motifs in traditional Japanese tattooing.
Back of the Hand and Fingers
On the back of his hand, between the knuckles, are three small triangles. They show in the same October 2024 photo as the dragonfly, and they drew attention again in an August 2025 photo of his hand posted on the official Instagram of his solo project. (Source: Pinzuba News, August 5, 2025, in Japanese)
His fingers are tattooed too. In the December 2019 photo, you can see a few small designs on the fingers of his right hand, including a black symbol and a red sunburst-like pattern. We found nothing from him on what they mean.
Arms and Shoulders
The same 2019 photo shows a color Japanese-style piece on his right upper arm, and the June 2024 live photo shows lettering on his forearm. Josei Jishin also reports designs on his shoulders and shoulder blades.
Why Ryuta Shibuya Got Tattoos
In a March 2025 entry of his essay series, Shibuya wrote that he got tattooed simply because he liked it. In the same essay, while looking back on the cheap super sento (large public bathhouses) he relied on when he was broke, he recalls getting his first tattoo at 23. (Source: Da Vinci Web, "Fukeba Tobu yo na Otoko daga" No. 45, March 27, 2025, in Japanese)
He also wrote that he got his tattoos knowing they would bring inconveniences, and places and people that would restrict him. He added that he would never demand that society become more accepting of tattoos. If it did change, he would just count himself lucky.
Did His Right-Hand Tattoo Disappear?
People in Japan often search whether his right-hand tattoos have "disappeared" or whether he had them removed. Here is what we could confirm.
No Sign He Removed Them
We found no statement from him and no news report saying he has had any tattoos removed.
The August 2025 hand photo shows the tattoos between his knuckles, and the July 2026 Josei Jishin article still lists the backs of his hands among his tattooed areas.
Usually Covered on Japanese Music Shows
When he appeared on Fuji TV's 2026 FNS Kayosai Summer on July 1, 2026, in an outfit that showed little skin, fans noticed how cleanly his neck tattoos were hidden, Josei Jishin reported. A music writer quoted in the same article said he doesn't cover his tattoos at concerts, but on music shows they are almost always neatly hidden, and that his neck tattoos could not be seen at all on TV Asahi's Music Station on June 26.
How he covers them, and whether the TV networks ask him to, is not known. We also found no explanation from Shibuya or his agency.
Note that the tattoos these reports specifically describe as hidden on TV are the ones on his neck. We found no report or statement saying he covers his right-hand tattoos on TV.
A TV industry source quoted in the same article said some Japanese networks are cautious about tattoos showing on camera. NHK, for example, reportedly avoids letting tattoos stand out on screen, although they are not banned outright. For background on why tattoos are a sensitive topic in Japan, see our article on the history of tattoo bans at Japanese facilities.
Tattoos at Japanese Baths: A Lesson from His Essay
The same essay has a story that anyone visiting a Japanese bathhouse with a tattoo will appreciate. Soon after getting his first tattoo, Shibuya saw a "no tattoos" sign at a bathhouse. He wrapped a hand towel around his stomach to hide the tattoo, but the towel was so small that, while the tattoo was covered, the rest of him was on full display.
His advice: some places will let you in if you cover up, but where the answer is no, always follow the rules. (Source: Da Vinci Web, No. 45, page 2, in Japanese)
If you are visiting Japan with a tattoo, skin-colored cover tape or stickers are the simplest way to cover up at baths, pools and gyms that accept covered tattoos. Some places don't allow tattoos even when covered, so check each facility's rules first. The links below go to Amazon Japan (amazon.co.jp).
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View on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions About Ryuta Shibuya's Tattoos
Are Ryuta Shibuya's tattoos real?
Yes. In his own essay, he writes about getting his first tattoo at 23 and trying to hide the fresh tattoo at a bathhouse.
When did Ryuta Shibuya get his first tattoo?
At 23, according to his essay. He was born in May 1987, so that would have been around 2010 or 2011. By August 2012, he was answering fans' questions about his peony on Twitter.
Does Ryuta Shibuya have more tattoos now?
Yes. Josei Jishin reports that his neck first had only the dragonfly and the numerals, and that red flowers and other designs were added later.
Who did Ryuta Shibuya's tattoos?
We found no record of him naming his tattoo artist. Some names circulate online, but we couldn't confirm any of them through his own statements or news reports.
Does Ryuta Shibuya have a back tattoo?
He has the crest-like mark at the base of his neck, and Josei Jishin reports designs on his shoulder blades. We found no photo or statement from him showing a full back piece.
Why does Ryuta Shibuya hide his tattoos on TV?
He hasn't said. A music writer quoted by Josei Jishin says his tattoos are almost always hidden on music shows but not at concerts. Whether that is his choice or the networks' request is not known.
The Bottom Line on Ryuta Shibuya's Tattoos
Ryuta Shibuya has a dragonfly and kanji numerals usually read as "16000" below his ear, a crest-like mark at the nape of his neck, a peony on his stomach, three small triangles on his hand, and more on his fingers, arms and shoulders. He has written that he got tattooed because he liked it, and he linked the peony to a charm for his parents.
There's no sign he has removed any of them. On Japanese music shows his neck tattoos are reported to be hidden, but at SUPER BEAVER concerts his tattoos are on show. If you are thinking about a peony or kanji piece of your own, compare designs first, then talk it through with a studio.
*Based on publicly available information as of October 2026.
