Sorry if this is a personal question but I read somewhere that tattoos in Japan were frowned upon due to mob affiliation. Has this been your experience?
I thought I’d written about Japan and tattoos before but apparently not. So let’s go!
Sources: I’m not Japanese. I’m a white person living in Japan for 6 years now. I have tattoos, but not traditional Japanese ones. I’ve gotten 2 tattoos IN Japan.
Here’s the TL;DR answer is:
Yes, tattoos have affiliation with yakuza (Japanese mob) in Japan.
BUT in order to complete the circuit of that association, you also have to be an asian guy AND have a specific STYLE of tattoo.
The taboo on tattoos in Japan dates back to the Edo period. And yes, even today the older generation tends to view tattoos as a taboo and a statement rather than an art form.
I think it would be more accurate to say that there are TWO tattoo cultures in Japan. They coexist and interact with each other, but it’s still distinctive. The first one is specifically Japanese-style tattoos - let’s call these Irezumi - that you might recognize at a glance. They tend to be full-color and are often seen on full-back pieces or sleeves.
The second tattoo culture would be the ‘western’ styles - I say western but in reality, it’s just ‘everything else’ - from Tribal to Geometrical to Maori to Watercolor to traditional Thai designs.
Now, why is this distinction important?
There is a VERY common myth going around that if you have ANY kind of tattoo on you at all, you are FOREVER BANNED from entering Japanese hot springs and are ostracized by Japanese society and labeled a criminal and etc.
And I’m here to tell you - IT JUST AIN’T TRUE!
I have 5 tattoos - all on my arms - 4 of which are arm bands that are FULLY VISIBLE and very obvious if I wear a t-shirt or a short sleeved button up.
(BUT!) My tattoos are all stylistically dissimilar to the ones described above as Irezumi.
(AND!) I’m white. (this is perhaps the most important point)
In conjunction to all this…
I am employed by a municipal office in a small town in the boonies of Japan - this place is about as back-country as you can get without going to Hokkaido to rub shoulders with bears.
All my coworkers know I have tattoos. All the kids I have taught have KNOWN I have tattoos and I have taught full classes with my tattoos in plain sight and no one has said anything about it (aside from kids coming over and poking them and asking ‘Does it hurt? Does it hurt NOW? Does it hurt if I do THIS?’)
I have gone into onsen (hot springs) countless times and have only been asked to leave ONCE. Less shiningly, I have walked directly past ‘No Tattooed Individuals Allowed’ signs (a la ‘This Sign Won’t Stop Me Because I Can’t Read’ mood) ((I could totally read it but it still didn’t stop me)).
So what can that tell you about tattoos in Japan? Well mostly that you’re fine as you are as long as you are white, your tattoos are ‘western’ enough, your tattoos aren’t full back pieces or sleeves.
Now, I HAVE heard that colored tattoos or sleeves sometimes set off alarm bells anyways. I’ve heard stories of non-Japanese people and non-asian men getting stopped by the police and getting randomly questioned and asked to show ID because they had colored sleeve-style tattoos. But for the most part, those stories are rare.
It’s also important to note that, despite many older Japanese people denying it vehemently - MANY younger people ALSO have tattoos. I know quite a few parents of my kids have tattoos because their kids have told me ‘oh yeah, my dad has one that’s ___ on his arm!’ and etc.
Granted, those people are typically employed in a non-government position OR they hide their tattoos under their clothes in order to appear ‘professional’ but I’d say that’s no different from how many other companies in the US treat tattooed individuals.
Of course, others can chime in if they have their own stories, but that has been my experience!
jacobvanloon
kianamaiart
izzy806
