I’m so sorry for the length but this post is about being tattooed in Japan, let’s get it on.
”Can you be tattooed and still go to Japan?” This has to be one of my most common asks, and I absolutely never mind receiving questions related to being tattooed in Japan (existing but also the act of getting them done with a language barrier). But I do have a gigantic pet peeve regarding the REPLIES to such questions. Those people trying to slap down unsolicited advice about how tattoos are received in Japan, ohhhh my goodness it makes me grind my teeth.
And y’know, it’s all about context. So I’ll dish this out with specific parameters.
When people who (1) have never been to Japan, (2) aren’t tattooed, and/or (3) offer this up without solicitation as ‘advice’ say “Well you have tattoos, so that rules out any fun in Japan!” it burns my damn grits.
So, for those who already were wondering/have gotten this advice, let me tell you: You can exist with tattoos here. It might cause some issues (Japan as a whole tends to judge Asians so much harder than other races, if you’re white here you’re going to have such a different experience than a poc, especially when it comes to tattoos*) and yes sometimes you run the risk of being asked to leave a bathhouse. But you aren’t going to be banned from the fucking country.
Too often I see these comments, and they read like “pfeh, foolish pleb, don’t you know that Japan has yakuza, and yakuza have tattoos.”**
Again. Reassurance. It really doesn’t suck to be you. Your tattoos aren’t going to prevent you from enjoying this country, from going to an onsen***, or from just EXISTING in plain sight.
Stop telling people this “yakuza are prevalent so tattoos lump you in with criminals” bullshit pleaaaaaaaaaase you neeeeeeed to stop. That’s as ridiculous as saying “your infinity tattoo on your wrist lumps you in with prisoners in gangs in the American system, all Americans will view you the exact same way as a criminal”.
Yes, tattoo culture in EVERY country has sprung from underground, tight-knit communities who used tattoos to belong and to recognize members of their groups. Be it First Nations people, gang members, sorority girls, family members, military, or WHATEVER. Tattoo culture.... is varied. And not black and white. And has nuances and disagreements WITHIN ITSELF about what it means to have tattoos. By getting tattoos, you do become part of this varied community in your own way.
So let’s go back to why this burns my grits.
It pisses me off when the above constraints are met, when people without tattoos spout this about Japan and don’t take into account that even in our home countries we run the risk of not getting jobs, being stared at, being judged, or being asked to leave/put on clothes at public establishments. Why don’t people jump on that?
Imagine it!
“Oh no honey, you can’t go to an American-style church. You see, you have tattoos, and in American culture, everyone believes that tattoos are associated with a no-no stated in the bible right here. You’ll be asked to leave restaurants, pools, and you won’t see respectable Americans with ink that shows.”
See how it reads? Really ignorant, right? Not just to lump in a whole country, but also to over-generalize the nuance associated with those who deliberately do not get tattooed for religious reasons**** and generalizing the religious beliefs that ask people not to get tattooed. It just reads as a gloss of “I know more than you but not really”.
So what would I have these people do? It’s easy. Just don’t comment about it. As Mark would say, “Keep your stupid comments in your pocket” friends.
You are not doing a tattooed person a favor by telling them they’re gonna be judged for their pieces. You are not doing Japanese people a solid by acting as if their culture is one block of unshifting, never changing conditions.
You think there aren’t tattooed Japanese people who have art just for the fun of it? You think there aren’t girls with pretty stars, butterflies, or roses on their hips here? Or that there aren’t guys with their birthday in roman numerals, or an English phrase in blocked gothic script?
Those comments don’t read like you consider these people and their experiences. But the ones who get tattoos for fun or aesthetic or no reason REALLY do exist, just as underground mafia-tied tattooing does exist. When you blanket-statement this stuff, you’re just swiping at all of the variety and the nuance. I know you want to help people.... but you’re not. You’re not doling out advice at that point. You’re just being annoying.
As always, if I can help you get a bigger picture of this aspect of living in Japan, or if I didn’t phrase something right or could have explained something more, let me know. Anon is open, you can also just chat through the message function. No shitty vibes y’all. Not even towards tattoos.
* Regardless of what my culture is, I look white and recognize that I benefit from that. Yes, even in Japan. You should seek out poc with tattoos here for their perspective, and not just read into my experience alone.
** yes this is what you sound like if you type this.
*** some onsen will ask you to leave, yes. But there are lists of baths that don’t give a shit if you even just GOOGLE. If you put in “tattoo friendly onsen in ___” it will pop you up some guaranteed okay spots. Also, if you’re not near a huge touristy area, or a well-known hub for those who, yes, have tattoos for their involvement in a certain organization? You’re double okay. Not saying it doesn’t happen, because it has happened to me, but it is likely to NOT HAPPEN and should not limit you/make you feel like you have to advise incomers to be ashamed of their ink. Fuck.
**** I respect any reason people have to not be tattooed and this post is not to indicate anything otherwise. I just sometimes people need to accept “this thing isn’t about me” and keep their opinions to themselves.