Namakubi://

> Pronunciation: (NAH-mah-KOO-bee)

> English name: Severed head

> Distinctive features: decapitated human head. can have all different kinds of gore but typically stabbed with a blade or bamboo spike, sometimes or wrapped in ceremonial cloth. Can appear eerie or almost peaceful depending on the design.

> Powers: Spirit energy lingers after death. Often represents unfinished business, vengeance, or a warning to the living. Can haunt or curse in folklore.

> Habitat: Battlefields, places of execution, abandoned areas; anywhere death occurred violently.

> Claim to fame: Famous in samurai era legends and ukiyo-e prints. heads of defeated warriors sometimes became namakubi, symbolizing honor, vengeance, or remembrance of battles.

> Common tattoo depictions: Works best mid-sized to large to capture facial detail but can be done fairly small. can be placed into most scenes for larger scale. 

> Tattoo symbolism: Courage, mortality, honor, the lingering energy of conflict, and facing the reality of death.