I think having Japanese/Chinese symbols carved into your body is so very stupid. He wouldn't put it in English, because it'd look broken and stupid. I just don't fathom... everybody.
Reminds me of this guy that came into my job one day with a tattoo of what he said meant something like "iron king" in Chinese. i read the characters as kanji as "strong princess".
Serves him right, if you're going to get something that'll be with you for the rest of your life, you'd think you'd put a little research into it first.