What are Japan's views on people with tattoos? How do Japanese people generally feel about tattoos?

Question

What are Japan's views on people with tattoos? How do Japanese people generally feel about tattoos?

Beez_ze · Answer

@undertherainjp thats very interesting! In sweden it’s so normal to get tattoos and if someone doesn’t give you a job because you have tattoos a lot would get mad!

samlynn364 · Answer

I work for law enforcement and have a tattoo, which would feel very ironic when in Japan I’m sure because of the perception of crime related to tattoos. :)

I probably would not show my tattoo in Japan given this, and it is in a place that would be difficult to see.

Amina10127540 · Answer

كيف اقول انا طالبة في الجامعة بالكورية

X-Ben · Answer

😱😱😱😱
That’s incredible. The most people younger than 40 are tattooed over here too and you can also find old people having tattoos these days as that trend started 30 or 40 years ago (not in the recent extent of course)

Utente eliminato · Answer

@Virginiah I lived in Japan for 3 years and have 2 tattoos. One visible and the other not. While there I did notice a lot of Japanese young people with tattoos so I don’t think it’s as taboo anymore. I had some issues going to certain onsens but most allow you if you’re a foreigner despite the tattoos (better to call them first though)

oanaf125 · Answer

Buna ce faci?

saleha_qapr · Answer

It's normal thing 🤷🏻‍♀️

Matthew291198 · Answer

@undertherainjp So if I understand correctly, do you have all of America, Europe and Australia for criminals?

Peeriew · Answer

@Matthew291198 That is not what they said. It's probably just because of the vibes that person gives and because the Japanese are generally more modest. So even if tattoos are common in your country or mine, maybe a Japanese person would find them really daring!

Matthew291198 · Answer

@CookieGirl330 Possible, Japan is an interesting country, I hope that when I visit this country I will not say that I am a criminal xd

Peeriew · Answer

@Matthew291198 I'm sure you'll be fine, don't worry. After all, physical appearance isn't everything lol

misslovelykawaii · Answer

@Peeriew I think he is referring to this part of what undertherainjp said "I don't think them cool at all. I don't care if the person with tattoos is foreigner, still the fact that the person has tattoos would make me refrain from talking to him/her because it's a sign that s/he is a part of an organized crime."  I have tattoos, I'm half Japanese raised in America.  I don't think it right to judge people by their looks. It's putting people in a box that they don't deserve to be in. I am a mother of 3, never been in jail, have government and law in my family.  From what I'm told by my mother (who is from Japan) my family is one of the largest families in Japan but they are ok with tattoos. I know a lot of foreigners that have been living in Japan for years and have full arms (sleeve) tattoos and made lots of friends (young and old), exepted in most establishments that they go to. As long as you are nice and respectful towards Japanese you will be fine.

Peeriew · Answer

@misslovelykawaii I see. Then maybe it's just a matter of first impressions and stereotypes (which aren't a good thing most of the time, of course). I understand where that's coming from, though. Thank you for letting me know.

Peeriew · Answer

@undertherainjp A history? About tattoos? I've never heard of something like that. Could you please tell me some more about that?
But yes, I see. If that's what you think, then alright.

misslovelykawaii · Answer

@undertherainjp that is what my mother told me. My Japanese family owns a few companies and ski resorts and I have a big extended family in Japan that are progressive people. When it comes to Japan's past with Tattoos and the Yakuza I understand but I or my Japanese family still wouldn't judge people, especially foreigners that have nothing to do with Japan's past with tattoos.  It would be the same if in America, someone comes from Japan to visit and an American won't talk to you or treat you like your a disease just because of our past that has nothing to do with you. Over here it would be seen as discriminatory and grounds for the foreigner to take the American to court and sue them. The definition of stereotype is "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing." An example of stereotyping someone is like Racist people believe all Japanese males are perverts with small dicks. Which isn't true. That's something a racist would blanket describe all Japanese males the same as you saying I won't speak to a person with tattoos, foreigner or not, because all people with tattoos are part of an organized crime. I'm not here to change your view on people with tattoos because you are set with your way of see people.  I was explaining in my previous post my experience and that there is a lot of Japanese that don't discriminate against foreigners with tattoos.

thebund · Answer

tatoo is just most cheapest way to make yourself cool. everyone can spend one hundred dollars and two to three hours to get a tattoo.

Juulia01 · Answer

@thebund Actually its not cool. Do you know what tattoo does to human?

thebund · Answer

@Juulia01 if there is any more serious meaning behind it

Peeriew · Answer

@Juulia01 The only thing they do is make you not be able to donate blood, no? There are no other side effects from what I know

Foozel · Answer

Well that's not ture at all. Of course people with tattoos can donate blood. If you made a tattoo at a certified tattoo artist then there is no problem.

Tattoos have symbolically meaning that's one of the big reasons they are so heatedly debated as well. Let's stick to the topic of how people In Japan perceive foreigners with tattoos.

X-Ben · Answer

@undertherainjp 
Sorry, but for me it sounds like your perception checks all boxes of a stereotype. 
I do understand that you might associate negative things to Japanese natives with tattoos if there is a connection in your country’s history between tattoos and crime. At the same time the appearance of a person doesn’t tell you what kind of person that human being actually is.... and I think you should be aware of that too....
I find it quite ignorant to associate the same negativity with tattooed foreigners even though you know having tattoos is perfectly normal in the rest of the world
Thanks anyway for your honest thoughts and objective facts. Japan is now certainly on the list of places I don’t wanna travel to..

Chaosx · Answer

Why did I get this question I don’t even understand one word in Japanese

Peeriew · Answer

@Chaosx this is the best comment

markleee40 · Answer

tattoos are a big no in Japan because the Yakuza has them. if you're a foreigner they generally let it slide but as an Asian person in Japan, I highly recommend covering your tattoos at all times

Juulia01 · Answer

@Peeriew No, when they put tattoo on them, the liquid in da pencil thing gets into their body. Maybe its better and easier to understand fluent english speaker than me.

Peeriew · Answer

@Juulia01 Well yeah, that liquid is the ink xD

OdeliaSjursen · Answer

a history about tattoos?  l've never heard something like what before 🤔🤔

netfreak5700 · Answer

@OdeliaSjursen same !

HanaMasutani · Answer

some people like it and some people not. many people are scared of people with tattoos

MariaIshchenko · Answer

@Peeriew one can donate blood even having a tattoo, but must pass a year after you get it

No_M · Answer

If you’re not Asian and have a tattoo, they will just understand. They know it’s common in other countries.
If you’re an Asian and have like a big colorful tattoo, they won’t like you, because they will probably assume you are from Yakuza.
And if you’re an Asian with just like a small tattoo, it might be frowned upon by some people...even though it doesn’t mean anything...
And also, in big cities they accept tattoos much better than in small towns...

miss_cat · Answer

@Virginiah If you’re not Japanese, there shouldn’t be a problem, unless if you want to get in an onsen for example. There are onsens which refuse to have people in there with tattoos (remember that people are 100% naked in an onsen). There are also tattoo-friendly onsens though. There are also restaurants that might not want to serve you if you have a tattoo on full display. In that case, just cover it up with a shirt or a jacket or whatever or have your meal at an other restaurant. There is still a negative connotation regarding tattoos in Japan, because tattoos are associated with Yakuza and crime in general. But if you’re from an other ethnicity, you should be ok :)

amardeepsingh9181995 · Answer

@HanaMasutani small tattoo is best but long tattoos is bad

Juulia01 · Answer

@Peeriew XDDDDD Lol yes ink. Omg when will i ever learn the word.

seakiddo · Answer

@Virginiah a lot of Yakuza Japanese mafia have tattoos that's why they weren't tolerated cuz they would think ur part of the yakuza but these days tattoos have become fashion some teenagers have tattoos so I would say the younger generation accepts it well but the older generation doesn't

also some poeple won't rent u a house or apartment if u have tattoos.

also some poeple won't rent u a house or apartment if u have tattoos.

tulikagupta · Answer

Tattoos were considered symbolic of criminal or Yakuza in Japan. At one point, the convicts were also tattooed. Therefore, any person with a tattoo was considered a felon. But it's not the same today. Some onsens even allow tattooed people. The stigma around it has changed over the years.

annhien9944 · Answer

I don't know

Rashin · Answer

They  don't  Like  it

netfreak5700 · Answer

I had  no idea about this.

What are Japan's views on people with tattoos? How do Japanese people generally feel about tattoos? Vedi una traduzione

@undertherainjp thats very interesting! In sweden it’s so normal to get tattoos and if someone doesn’t give you a job because you have tattoos a lot would get mad!

I work for law enforcement and have a tattoo, which would feel very ironic when in Japan I’m sure because of the perception of crime related to tattoos. :) I probably would not show my tattoo in Japan given this, and it is in a place that would be difficult to see.

كيف اقول انا طالبة في الجامعة بالكورية

😱😱😱😱That’s incredible. The most people younger than 40 are tattooed over here too and you can also find old people having tattoos these days as that trend started 30 or 40 years ago (not in the recent extent of course)

Buna ce faci?

It's normal thing 🤷🏻‍♀️

@undertherainjp So if I understand correctly, do you have all of America, Europe and Australia for criminals?

@Matthew291198 That is not what they said. It's probably just because of the vibes that person gives and because the Japanese are generally more modest. So even if tattoos are common in your country or mine, maybe a Japanese person would find them really daring!

@CookieGirl330 Possible, Japan is an interesting country, I hope that when I visit this country I will not say that I am a criminal xd

@Peeriew one can donate blood even having a tattoo, but must pass a year after you get it

@HanaMasutani small tattoo is best but long tattoos is bad

@Peeriew XDDDDD Lol yes ink. Omg when will i ever learn the word.

Tattoos were considered symbolic of criminal or Yakuza in Japan. At one point, the convicts were also tattooed. Therefore, any person with a tattoo was considered a felon. But it's not the same today. Some onsens even allow tattooed people. The stigma around it has changed over the years.

I don't know

They don't Like it

I had no idea about this.

Fai domande a utenti madrelingua gratis

What are Japan's views on people with tattoos? How do Japanese people generally feel about tattoos?

I work for law enforcement and have a tattoo, which would feel very ironic when in Japan I’m sure because of the perception of crime related to tattoos. :)

I probably would not show my tattoo in Japan given this, and it is in a place that would be difficult to see.

😱😱😱😱
That’s incredible. The most people younger than 40 are tattooed over here too and you can also find old people having tattoos these days as that trend started 30 or 40 years ago (not in the recent extent of course)