DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2025.06.30
Anime, Japan's beloved pop culture export that captivates audiences worldwide, has inspired a uniquely Japanese nail art trend called "anime nails." This fusion of otaku culture and incredible artistic skill, which recreates characters with stunning realism, is quintessentially Japanese. Let's delve into the captivating world of anime nail art.
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"Anime nails" are often referred to as "ita nails" (literally "painful nails") in Japan, and originated as part of "otaku activities" where fans incorporate their favorite characters into nail designs. As skilled Japanese nail artists fulfilled customers' requests to recreate anime and manga characters on nails, the exceptional quality of their work gained attention on social media and spread widely.
Today, it's also become standard for fans to get nail art featuring real-life idols as part of their "oshi-katsu" (idol support activities) before attending concerts.
Anime nail art is typically painted on the thumb due to its larger surface area, which allows for more intricate designs. The other nails are coordinated with motifs and colors related to the character to enhance the overall design aesthetic.
We visited "color's blue Shibuya," Japan's first self-proclaimed "ita nail specialty salon" that specializes in anime nail art, where nail artist Suzuki Ai showed us the creation process.
Suzuki has been painting anime and manga character portraits upon customer request since before the boom began. She honed her skills through self-study and now calls herself the "mother of ita nails."
①Shaping and Extending the Nails
First, refine the shape of the nails. Proper care enhances the surface area for art and creates a more polished appearance. Length can also be added with acrylic extensions.
②Finishing the non-anime nails
The customer's non-anime nail designs are coordinated with the character's black hair and black school uniform using black nail polish with star patterns. At Suzuki's suggestion, the black nails feature trendy "magnet nails" for a subtle shimmer effect.
③Starting with Skin Tone Base, No Outline First
The character is painted over a black base that matches the other nails. Like a true professional, she begins directly with the skin tone base without any preliminary sketching! She works by referencing the customer-provided image placed nearby.
Anime nail art is created using acrylic paints designed for painting. She selects colors for her palette based on the anime image provided by the customer. The brushes used are also ultra-fine painting brushes.
④Hair Color, Then Eyes at Last
After painting the skin, she adds the hair color, and finally draws in the facial contours and line work.
⑤Apply Protective Top Coat and Complete
A top coat is applied to protect the artwork.
Complete! The skin tone uses 2-3 colors to express shadows and cheek blushes, while the hair color features gradation to show shine. Truly professional technique!
According to Suzuki, the most challenging aspect of anime nail art is "how to fit the character within the nail space." Beyond scale, she must consider the balance of features while being mindful of the nail's curve—it requires intense concentration. The time varies depending on the complexity of the character's line work, but 30 minutes to an hour per nail is typical. She recalls one instance where creating anime nails on all ten fingers took from morning until night.
Suzuki's dedication to fulfilling customers' requests and painting characters with such determination led to continuous improvement in her skills. Remarkably, she even became an anime otaku herself, despite having no initial interest in anime—truly admirable!
Her Instagram showcases an impressive collection of her past anime nail art creations. Be sure to check it out!
When ordering anime nail art, keep in mind that this service is only offered by a limited number of salons, and it can be time-consuming. Once you find a suitable salon, it's best to express your interest in anime nail art and make a reservation in advance.
While bringing reference images of your desired character is essential, sending them to the nail artist beforehand allows for better image sharing and communication.
Many salons accept orders through Instagram, making it accessible to international visitors as well.
After the service, many salons take photos with the customer's smartphone—what a delightful touch! Some salons even have dedicated photography lights and setups.
Come fully prepared and experience the charm of anime nail art by having your favorite anime or manga characters beautifully recreated on your nails.
Started creating ita nails (anime nails) in 2012 and calls herself the "mother of ita nails." She served as manager at the world's first ita nail specialty salon in Akihabara and currently works at "Color's blue Shibuya." Despite being entirely self-taught, her exceptional technique allows her to create intricate, detailed ita nails (anime nails) with delicate precision. Her creative 3D nail art has also gained attention. She occasionally serves as a nail instructor at various events.
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/colors_ai/
