Hi Kabong,
Thank you for explaining all the background.
I believe that many people around here do not like kanji tattoos because there are many people who do not understand the language trying to get kanji tattoo and insisting to express something only in kanji (not like your wife's example, but more like a long message) which is impossible to do in Japanese except some special expressions originated from China.
And there are many silly (for others to see, and sad for the person who got tattoo) examples of kanji tats - those conveying something quite different from one intended, incorrect kanji, wrong kanji, warped, upside down, etc. or awful style only appreciated in the west where people really don't know the language.
Maybe you've already know there's a very good site about it but if not, please check out
Hanzi Smatter with your wife to avoid errors (once you got it, you cannot change or eliminate it so easily) before she actually get the tattoo.
I myself do not mind people getting kanji tattoo simply because it is not my skin
As for the kanji 偲 and the reason why your wife want it, I do not see particular problems about it, and it looks fine for me.
Just a side note, the tattoo of cherry blossoms in your photo is not traditional sakura.
Don't take me wrong, I do not mean to criticize, but it is a typical western tattoo design for cherry blossoms. (And to be honest the trunk and branch look more like ume/plum trees.)
Typical sakura (cherry blossoms) patterns
桜★『日本と世界の伝統文様』 : ☆Our songs☆
http://www.google.co.jp/images?q=%E4...art=40&ndsp=20
Typical Japanese tattoo for sakura
http://pub.ne.jp/threeslope/?cat_id=108677
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200904/05...94_2074317.jpg
But again, it is your wife who is getting the tattoo, so the most important thing is that she should get the design she likes best, and certainly she does not have to stick to something authentic. The design should be something she can love for the rest of her life.
I hope she'll get a nice tattoo to commemorate her father.
