What Do Japanese Really Think Of Tattoos?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
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Tutorial how to not be poor pls
Thank you again Takashi for doing these interviews. It really helps us understand the thinking that’s common in Japan’s society. Street interviews show the real Japan much more than news, drama, or movies.
I don't have any tattoos, want to know why? Cause I didn't want to upset Japan and I wanted to go there after 30 years wanting to and learned if you're white, you'll be hated no matter what you do. Was told only Yakuza had em, I guess 30 years ago that was true. Japanese would exempt Americans and Chinese out of fear anyways, but no other race.
I love your channel Takashii. We in America love your culture. It's fascinating. Sending love and well wishes from Georgia, USA.
@@ironhell808 I can think of 2 BIG reasons why Japanese people may be a little biased against Americans...
Was really interesting to hear the older generation’s perspective. I was surprised to hear that many of them don’t actually like the idea of discriminating someone based on the tattoos they have, but are naturally inclined to think negative things because of the history of the yakuza.
I was a little sad to hear they feel we (gaijin) are scary.
@@carolmarie2520 tbf the guy went to San Fran. I’ve been too + to New York and there are so many crazies out in the open that it’s very easy to have this perspective from a short trip to the US. Not sure what his comment has to do with tattoos though.
@@carolmarie2520 I think the general feeling is closer to ‘foreigners can be somewhat unpredictable.’ Japan is relatively homogeneous and foreigners are often ignorant of or simply disregard typical rules and norms. You’d probably never consider waiting for a walk sign at a street corner if there were no traffic in sight, but in Japan, many people do even at 2AM when they have the entire crossing to themselves. People are also highly aware and attentive to how others around them are feeling which couldn’t be further from an attitude of ‘giving zero f**ks.’ It’s not hard to appreciate why he wishes people would be more aware that they’re causing everyone around them to feel anxious.
@CBLC iNTIX Human beings everywhere seem to have this amazing ability to remember the bad more than the good.
@@eveningrice lĺĺlpl
I was in Japan in around 2008, and I am very heavily tattooed because I used to be a tattoo artist. The only reactions I remember was a ver6 old lady touching my arm at the train stop and smiling, and a girl in a shop who looked around to make sure her coworkers weren’t around, then lifted her hair to show me that she had a ton of piercings in her ears. It was a really cute moment, it made me feel good that she saw some kind of kindred spirit in me because of my tattoos.
That is so cool!
Very cute experiences. May I ask, are you male or female? Perhaps ladies are not intimidating compared to men?
I’m kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) and I never had an issue with my polynesian tattoos whenever I visited Japan. It was actually an ice breaker because a lot of Japanese wanted to talk to me about Hawaiʻi and tell me how much they wanna come visit and love our culture. However, despite that, I did my best to cover up my tattoos, especially when I visited shrines because I did not want to offend or show any disrespect to Japanese culture and societal norms during my time as a visitor. I’m totally ok with having to cover up, no big deal.
Interesting. My friends/family had a different experience, some good, some bad. In saying that, it's a bit harder to cover up a full Ta Moko
You are a very solid man for our age...right attitude it seems
I appreciate your respect for Japanese culture and social norms, but I'm also very happy you had positive experiences ❤
That is because your attitude and mentality is exactly of the Japanese. You having no problem covering up for the sake of respect is what Japanese people appreciate. Unfortunately, some yakuza and outlaws in Japan INTENTIONALLY show off their tattoos to intimidate people and we do not like that.
This made me feel better I’m flying there next June and I have a tribal band on my left arm. My mom is Hawaiian from Oahu
I have a lot of tattoos (even on my fingers). I visited Tokyo in 2018 and I didn’t have any problems. I even had an old man approach me and my husband (who is also tattooed) and he just chatted with us asking if we liked Japan and we’re having a good time and he told us a bit about his life. I had a very nice experience.
Do you guys speak Japanese? I would love to chat with the elderly, but unfortunately, my Japanese is pretty barebones. It is so lovely that you had such a fantastic experience.
@@Mattvieir He actually spoke English. That may be why he felt comfortable to approach us. He said he spent time in America going to art school in California in his 20’s so I think he was excited to speak English with us. I’m going back to Japan next month so I’ve been working on my Japanese to be able to communicate even more with non English speakers. I hope you have more nice experiences in Japan in the future!
I’ve noticed the stigma mainly falls on Asians with tattoos because it’s hard for them to discern whether or not they have ties to Yakuza or other gang affiliations. They tend not to act as apprehensive to foreigners or tourists with tattoos.
If you don't look East Asian then people don't mind.
@@Mok3sp33d yea that seems to be what I’m discovering. Makes total sense
I was living in Osaka for a year in 2019. I had a lot of Japanese friends who had tattoos. Seems like Tokyo and Osaka has very different thinking. Osaka for me was more relaxed.
Yes they are different. Just like any countries. People are different depending on which region in one country they live in.
hi i am realy trying to move to osaka also, can you tell me how u got to live there and what u did for a living?
I'm living in Tokyo and was in Osaka last month for 3 days, I saw difference both in good and bad ways 😅 it was fun!
@@Samuel_Trader_Journy Hi, I moved to Osaka to work an IT company based there. They handled the visa needed.
Accomadation I had to share an apartment with someone for 6months because no landlord/landlady would rent to me as I had no trust yet.
Rent is super expensive. So make sure you know where you are living first. Luckily, transport is really good in Osaka and you can get anywhere quite quick.
Osaka is the relaxed version of Tokyo
I honestly want to get tattoos I think it’s cool but I would NEVER do that as long as I live in Japan.
Im sure I will miss onsen and sauna too much lol
theres always temporary tattoos im planning on using them
do you have any other countries you want to live in?
That's the reason I couldn't live in there. I need saunas 🎉
Don Quijote sells skin color tattoo patches in 3 sizes. I use the largest size to cover my shoulder tattoo when I go to onsen - it works perfectly!
If you could get a tattoo, what kind of tattoo would you get?
I've actually found myself thinking that I have never seen an elderly person with a tattoo. I'm sure this will change as a lot of the younger generation and people from my generation have a bunch of tattoos lol this will be very interesting to see in the future!
That older gentleman had a very amazing answer to that question, probably the most frank and realistic view on Japan's cultural view of tattoos and weather or not it will be changed, even going on to say something that's as relatable to probably anyone in any country with the "If it does change, it'll be in 30 years"
He's right and it's something we've already seen in the Anglosphere at least. For a long time tattoos were basically viewed as the preserve of criminals or sailors, then they became a bit more widely accepted but very much viewed as something for the 'lower classes' which eventually shifted to a general 'not respectable or professional' and that has also changed a bit over the last 20 - 30 years with more people able to openly show tattoos in their place of work. However, we're still in the midst of that sort of change and there are still lots of arenas of work where it wouldn't be acceptable to have uncovered tattoos and general cultural attitudes are still far from universally shifted. A lot of older people still cling onto the 'criminals or sailors' thing and even some younger people have a strong general distaste for tatts. It takes a long time for culture to shift, it may never fully do so.
I went to Japan last year and I expected that there are strict laws in Japan about Tattoos. My whole left arm and right legs are covered with Philippine traditional hand tapped tattoo. Tbh my whole stay was great and some people are asking my how beautiful my tattoos are especially for a girl like me. There was this old man asked me why I decided to get tattoos and I explained that I really don't plan to have tattoos but I got into a fire accident that burned my left arm and legs so after years of being ashamed of people constantly looking at my scars why not give something to look at. Since I'm getting my 1st tattoo why not get it from the living legend Apo Whang Od the oldest tattoo artist in the world. They said that if you died your tattoos is the only thing you can bring at the after life since it was etched into your skin.
That sounds exactly like the experience of having tattoos in the US, lmao.
Wow lucky you got a chance to get inked by the legendary whang od
So beautiful
Hey i also have the same problem as you
Both of my arms are full of black scars because of my eczema. Everyday in school i wore jacket kahit na mainit ang panahon. Soon mag cocollege na ako and i dont plan to hide my scars anymore. Any advice to me if some student say bad things to me or be disgusted from my scars? I am also scared if my friends will see my scars.
It is kinda cute to hear that japanese people think the rules should be loosened a bit, but not for themselves but because they think foreigners might be discriminated against if they come to Japan and have tattoos.
Yes! Let’s change the entire culture of a nation just so a few gaijin can feel more comfortable 😂 lol
@@lobodraco *Grinch echo scene*
@@lobodraco that's called tolerance not cultural shift
@@lobodraco Wow. Who thought respecting other's cultures was such a bad thing.
@@lobodracoyeah never change any cultures, all of them are good and should stay the exact same way 😂😂😂
I’m visiting Japan in two weeks and I’m heavily tattooed. My Japanese teacher (she’s a native) always says that I will be fine since I’m a foreigner. But seeing people still having rather negative feelings towards tattoos makes me a little worried. Well, I guess the worst that could happen is that I’m unable to visit any onsen 🙈
At least you can try to find some onsen that allow you to use!!
Welcome to Japan
If anything you’ll find an onsen where the yakuza visit, too. But don’t worry, they’ll very likely leave you alone. 🤭
My fiancee and I are heavily tattooed. She is Japanese and I am American. We had a tough time finding onsen near Fuji. We ended up renting an Airbnb with an onsen, ZERO regrets! Enjoy your trip.
@@YuBeace 😂
I really liked the first two girls honesty when sharing their opinion on tattoos while also recognizing it could be discriminatory for those who do have tattoos to not have certain experiences :) I have a few big tattoos and would love to visit Japan, maybe fall/winter may be best so I can keep them covered.
I had the same thought but then those would be the months I'd love to visit an onsen so I felt it kinda defeated the purpose lol 😅
@@GKXPress hahah good point! There are some private onsen for individual use that allow tattoos! Just don’t know where and size restriction and all that!
@wufanswaifu that's true. I feel like I'd be missing something by not trying a traditional onsen at least once though personally, so I hope I find one somewhere that doesn't mind foreigners with tattoos.
I’m pretty sure you can cover them up with bandages as well if you’re rlly interested in going to the osens but other then that I wouldn’t worry too much about covering them up in other situations, there are plenty of young people with them now in japan and it’s becoming way more acceptable to have tattoos especially for foreigners, Safe Travels :))
Just go to a drug store when you get there. Buy tattoo cover ups. You can go to any onsen or hot bath.
I will be extremely sad if I go to visit Japan and I don't see Takashi doing interviews.
You've become a National treasure for Japan ❤️
Weekends in Harajuku or Shibuya 😊
@@takashiifromjapan I have to see shibuya. I believe that is where we get to work in persona 5
I have been to japan several times with tattoos, and have noticed a pretty huge change in the level of acceptance even in just the last five years compared to my first trip in 2017, when I was often asked to cover up and barred entry to certain places. I visited again only a few months ago and had no issues at all with my tattoos no matter the location, and even had a few comments from Japanese people admiring them - they really do draw a clear distinction between foreigners (who they know come from cultures where tattoos are accepted) and locals, and honestly that's a level of social awareness and consideration for others that I think is incredible.
The history of tattooing in Japan is absolutely fascinating and actually dates back to the indigenous people of Hokkaido and Okinawa.
Despite the criminal association of horimono and the more modern forms of Japanese tattooing it is also ironically one of the most beautiful forms of modern tattoo art.
Beneath the skin, is a great podcast that discusses this history in a few episodes if anyone is interested further.
🙏
Oh nice! Thank you for the recommendation, will def check it out!
It's a weird case for me because as a half-Japanese, half-Chinese born outside of Japan. I look Japanese and speak some Japanese, but if people just look at me, they will assume I'm Japanese and so I don't get the gaijin pass the way "foreigners" do. Because when natives speak of foreigners, they mean foreigners they can immediately recognize as foreigners of course.
Thank you for the great video!
Exactly this! I'm Chinese but I look Japanese and can speak Japanese, so I'm almost always mistaken for a Japanese person. I have a tattoo, but have always hidden it when I go to onsen. The whole "gaijin pass" doesn't work for me, and so I'm hesitant to get any more tattoos (even tho I want more) because I know I'll get judged for them. Any foreigners saying they never have problems with their tattoos in Japan, it's because they're obviously gaijin, which carries a different standard.
Bro. Asian + Asian is fuckin Asian. How do you look more Asian than your other Asian side... Stfu
@@kimee2897 yeah the gaijin pass also means you can never be truly a part of japanese society. the rules don't apply to you because you're not part of the club. that's not a problem if you're just a tourist but for immigrants it sucks
This is an insightful interview. Every Japanese citizen have their own thoughts and feelings in regards to body tattoos.
I have been turned away from Sentous, onsens, gyms, and pools because of my tattoo and that is very frustrating. However I have also spent time at places that allow tattoos and I have certainly noticed that if you allow them, Yakuza will come. In fact they will come in groups. So I kind of get why banning tattoos makes sense for some businesses. That being said. There has to be a better way. I really don't deserve to be banned from a sentou because I have one six inch tattoo on my chest.
Hi Takashii! Thank you very much for your interesting videos
I would like to make a suggestion, I know you don't have to take it into account, but I think it could be interesting, even if it probably wouldn't be easy.
Normally I realise that most of your interviews are with people living in a big city like Tokyo, but I think it could be interesting, how a rural person sees these same topics, or even foreigners living in those rural areas. Or for example, how young Japanese people live in rural areas, where they have fewer job opportunities, or what their daily life is like, going to school... Or what it is like for a foreigner to live or work in a rural area and interact with the locals.
I think it would be interesting, to have a more complete view of Japan, and less known.
As always your content is very interesting!
Yes I would love to do that.
And I’m working on a video about international students in the countryside!
@@takashiifromjapan Great! I think it will help to see another point of view of the country and the people.
Keep up the great work! Thank you very much ☺
I think this was a great question to ask because most people overlook issues like this. One can easily Google which onsen will allow tattoos, or choose an AirBNB with private baths. Some of these are more scenic and beautiful than public places, but it is for the individual to decide. Either way, enjoy!
Just go to a drug store when you get there. Buy tattoo cover ups. You can go to any onsen or hot bath.
Man, as an American, it’s so cool to see CLEAN streets. Our streets are always so dirty :/. Not even from trash but the concrete itself is always stained with something, got gum on it, cracked, has roots growing through it. It’s nice to see cities/cultures around the world that prioritize keeping a clean living space.
Very interesting video! Me and my husband both have many tattoos and when we have spent time in Japan (9 months in total) we have never had problems and Japanese people often compliment them and ask about them. He has also been to 5 different sentos and 2 onsens and never been turned away for his tattoos which I was surprised about
The way how i view tattoos is a work of art. I do understand the history with tattoos when it comes to gangs. it just a difference in cultures and growing up
@@homie3461 well said
It’s so wild to see so many, young and old, concerned with tourism and how outsiders will be treated. I think if you were to ask questions that *could* pertain to tourists, but affect us in general, we as a whole would, think of, how we are affected less than how our visitors are. A very interesting view. Very pleasant people.
i've never had a problem in japan with my tattoos [i'm brown and from NYC & have full sleeves]. the only time someone said something was when i was in koyasan. i was just kindly told to cover them up when i went into the bath. as a foreigner, i think most japanese are ok with it.
Are they ok with it, or are they just non-confrontational??
As long as they don't run away or tell you they aren't okay with it it doesn't really matter.
when you were told to cover up in the bath, how did you do so?
Im also quite inked up and from NYC, I think the biggest issue Japanese have with me is how loud and fast I talk.....Haha
Yeah I think the bath place is the only place they need to be covered so you don't get mistaken for a Yak
I thoroughly enjoy these videos, they are so realistic and informative. I feel these videos definitely help me get ready for a trip to Japan, because when I travel in general I want to respect the culture of that country, just as much as I want people to respect my culture! Thank you for all your efforts 😊
TOKYO GUIDEBOOK
takashifromjapan.com/tokyocompleteguide
Just watched 3 or 4 of your interviews videos and I have to comment - they feel really nice and I feel that they help share more in-depth look in how Japan really is. Thank you for it!
I love the older gentleman in the glasses had that random knowledge of Ariana Grande wanting to get rid of her tattoos. It was so random but so iconic. 😂
Takashii your pronountiation really improved throughout the time, im so glad to see some improvements. Keep it up, as someone who has tattoos himself this is a very interesting topic for me, thank you!
?... Dude, it´s his native language.
@@meomarte no he isnt native english?
@@poplix2704 OK, I was thinking about the guests in this video who were all japanese. I didn´t think about the english intro. My bad. :)
@@meomarte dw about it :)
I was in Japan for two weeks recently and I was happy I decided to go during the cold season, so no one could see my tattoos. I feel like everyone I interacted with was very nice but I could still feel some reservation sometimes, specially because people wouldn't even know about my country at all. I imagine things would've been different if they could've seen my tattoos.
I get the impression (personal opinion) that there is more prejudice in seeing a tattooed woman than a man.
@@rea4292 which sucks cause that's a sexy af combo
This is interesting! I always thought that tattooed foreigners who visit Japan would have a hard time but seems like it's not the case because people understand that the cultural meaning is different. Thank you!
Visiting ok, but to live permanently you will have hard time. Even gym will be difficult, some gyms ask just to cover tattoos, but some may even ask you to leave. Not even talking about pools and onsens.
Awesome video! Really interesting opinions! We are doing reportages in Finland to find out the opinions of this country 🇫🇮💪🏻
👍🏻
It's cool to see younger generations be more accepting of it, and understanding of foreigners as well. While I don't have tattoos, I've had to let my dad know that he may have to be cautious with his tattoos. But I feel that depending on what the tattoo is, it can change people's perspective. His tattoos are his children's names on his arms and 家族 (family) on his chest where his heart is, so I feel that maybe the context could change opinions a lot
Na man , just like most said in the video , they’ve always related tattoos to yakuza , the tattoo value over there it’s so sacred that people stay away from them , you earn them , not just ink them , but then again we do live in a new generation
@@IsureamFalling If you remembered any fucking thing from the first 2 mins of the video you'd also know that they said large tattoos are worse than smaller ones.
Tatoos are in my opinion pretty ugly and its extremely hard and painful when you get older.
This video really prepared me for my recent trip to Japan. 🤩I could actually feel the people looking at me cuz my hair is purple and I have a lot of tattoos, so I was aware that could happen, but I was never treated badly, everyone was so nice, friendly and helpful! 🥰I even had a couple of old ladies on the trains asking me to touch my hair and tattoos! 🤣 I loved Japan 🖤
@@dilucchandler4097 Nope, but they took a picture of me 😅
This is the perfect video that I was personally interested in! I have a butterfly tattoo on my chest and a small "pinky promise" on my arm. We are looking to go to Japan, so I have been trying to make sure I can find clothes that cover them up so as to not make people uncomfortable. Thank you for the video! And thank you to the people who offered their opinions. :)
They make really cool temporary tattoos now! Like, some are pretty amazing & look so real! I think these kind are great because you get to change up the style of them to match your outfits. Also, its nice to not have to commit to one design for your entire life, and you can remove them for appropriate settings.
It's called a marker pen
Oh, Takashi you are really bringing out the best videos! As someone with multiple giant tattoos, this one hit home! I really enjoy hearing about where this idea comes from and seeing how generational differences are affecting overall perspective.
I will say, it is a little disheartening to know as a foreigner, that I will be judged as someone maybe "in a gang" when that is the furthest outside what is actually happening in my life! hahaha.
I want to specifically talk to the gentleman at 3:56. If you were to ask me or any other tattoo person why they get what they get, it is BECAUSE it is PERMANENT. There are very few other things you can seriously think about, invest money in, invest time in, and support a creative outlet that gives you something that lasts your entire life. So, if the significance behind the art is strong enough, the art itself is as timeless as the body is sits upon, and to me that is a poetic feeling and not a gift to idly thrown to the side :)
This was really cool to hear many different outlooks on tattoos from natives to Japan and their outlook on foreigners with tattoos.
I am extremely excited to visit Japan, but I am a very heavily tattooed individual, and hopefully will not disrespect the culture.
After watching a bunch of this gentleman’s vids I’ve realized how different these answers are to someone in America or a lot of the west.
Every one of us (probably including myself tbh) would use his questions as an opportunity to say some big speech or their belief. The Japanese people seem think to on the question and just answer the question honestly.
I was mostly surprised by the guy saying that foreign people are scary. Hope that will change too. When it comes to tattoos I can imagine that it's also a difference if women or men or diverse people have them. Would be interesting to interview people and ask them about that :)
One of my classmates back in High School visited Japan before the pandemic. He said that he wanted to try onsen, but he was informed that he was not allowed because of his tattoo.
Anyways, this is a very good video, Takashi san. 素晴らしい!!!
I really love how everyone in these interviews seems to put thought into their answers; occasionally pausing before giving a response.
I appreciate the way you share these aspects of Japanese culture on your channel. For people like me, gaijin in love with Japan, it's wonderful.
I just got home from my 17 day vacation in Japan. We went to many places, tokyo, osaka, kyoto, and a few other places. I had 19 tattoos when we got there and got my 20th while in tokyo. Honestly i only herd positive things about my tattoos from locals. The only time i experienced negetive effects from having them was some baths required me to cover them up with big stickers. With the amount i have its not worth slapping stickers all over my arms and chest but there where baths i could go to and others where i only had to cover som of them to show i put in the effort. All in all nothing bad happend from having tattoos. No bad treatment from workers or anyone else. If someone mentioned them it was to compliment them
As someone with a lot of tattoos, including face tattoos this really helps me know what to expect if I ever visit Japan! Very cool video, as usual. Keep up the good work bro.
I’ve never been to Japan yet for some reason, have always had this ache to visit and live there. I see them as polite, more moralistic, have great interesting history and above all, I believe it’s a safer place to live. Even listening to the people talk on this tattoo subject, it’s so pleasant to hear their thoughts and ideas. Lovely people. 🙏🏾
i am half japanese and i have a lot of tattoos, even a wabori. it depends where you are and what you want to do. Most of the people talk to me normaly. Maybe they judge me when they see me (but i really dont care about that) but most of the time they forget that i have a tattoo, because they are suprised that i speak japanese and the main attention shifts towards why i speak japanese. So just be nice, smile and most of them will not care anymore. my uncle even shows me always off at gatherings because my brother and i have tattoos😂
Even if you're half japanese, they see you as a foreigner so it's ok to have tattoos
外国人がタトゥー入れててもなんとも思わないですよ。
日本人でも柄悪いなと思うくらい。
背中に仏像彫ってたら流石にビビる
I live in Japan and am tattooed shoulders to elbows on both arms. Because I am foreign, I don't necessarily face any discrimination because of it. But in summer I make every effort to keep my arms covered. Why? Because whether anyone wants to admit it or not, you will miss out on opportunities because of it. That girl might have come to talk to you, you might have met a business man who offers you a job or been scouted for a modelling gig (all of these have happened to me, only ever while tatts were covered). There's this big push in the modern day to be accepting of everyone and their choices. But the reality is that the brain makes subconscious judgments about risks and you want to avoid it impacting you negatively. It may be fine in the west to dye your hair all these colors, define your own gender and tattoo yourself from head to toe but if you're going to LIVE in Japan, you'll quickly find out that people who place themselves above society as a whole are going to be limiting their options. You may feel that's unfair, but that's just society here.
Absolutely true. Just an addition to your second sentence: You said that you don't face discrimination as a foreigner ->because of your tattoos.
You are already discriminated because of you are foreigner. Tattoos make things even worse and hopeless.
and once they see your arms you get fired and dumped
@@parkmedia and how can you say that tho? you can't possibly know what this person has or will go through while in japan.
@@solmoman not really. Tattoos give off a bad first impression. If people have a good impression of you and know what type of person you are, then they’re willing to overlook the tattoos and might even appreciate that you make the effort to cover them up.
@@TacticalDimples I dunno, I believe people think like that because they feel they're expected to. Unless you have a swastika on your forehead like Charles Manson It's about as criminal looking as a leather jacket or sunglasses.
I swear, japanese people are like groundhogs. They get scared by sudden movement, loud sounds, bright colours..
I've been in Japan for 30 years, and the attitude has changed dramatically in the last few years. 15 years ago, I remember tattoos as being really taboo. My boss was a member of a very modern and trendy gym, where tattoos were forbidden. He had a TINY tatt of a flower on his ankle, which he usually covered with a band-aid. One day he forgot to cover it and while he was using the pool, another swimmer spotted it and reported it to a member of staff, who immediately and rudely told my boss to leave the pool, get dressed and report to reception. At reception, his membership fee was returned to him and he was told not to come back. The next day there was a big sign in English at the entrance, "TATTOOS NO!" I don't think that would happen now. I wonder what happened to change people's attitudes?
I got my tattoo re-done last time I was in Tokyo. Eiji at Studio Muscat is great. It was done quickly and smoothly and looks absolutely beautiful.
BTW Beppu in Kyushu has many tattoo friendly onsen!
@@Rumade I'm planning on going to Japan at the start of next year, so this is great for me to keep in mind. I currently have 9 tattoos of various sizes (one on my neck, one on the back of each hand, the inside of each wrist, each forearm, and two on my chest). I'm concerned about being able to find tattoo friendly onsen while I'm there.
@Siilan Beppu is great in general. It's a true onsen town but often overlooked as it's not on the main western tourist track. Yet the information centre at the station had loads of stuff in English. There's some great shrines, the sea, the 7 Hells (themed hot springs for looking at not bathing in), onsen all over the place; and in the town of Useki further up the coast, you can find the oldest Buddha statues in Japan.
It's funny how a thing considered beautiful in one place is the opposite in another.
To me the beauty of a scar is living with it, it shows the acceptance of the past and the strength to not make the same mistakes, hiding it is lying to yourself and others.
-i do regret some of my tattoos, but they are a reminder that I need to be a better person. ♡
Thank you so much Takashi-san. Really needed to know about it ☺️✨! Be safe and take care 💕
I think this is why japanese people are so loved around the world. It fears them to see people with tattoos because of the past and present with the yakuza. But they still say everyone needs to feel welkom and not judged by there tattoos. I love this and visitors need to adjust a little we are visitors to these beautifull people, culture and country. Much love from the Netherlands i will visit there next year it is a dream coming true.
It's actually so good to hear that hot springs and other places allow people with fairly sized tattoos, i am still a minor myself but i want to get a tattoo when i become an adult, and i am also very very attached to the Japanese culture and it's people, it is my favorite country by far, so seeing those type of changes that are favorable for my future self is promising.
Also my opinion on this topic is probably based, i think that some places that have a "size limit" for tattoos is the right thing to start with and also probably finish with, i really hope Japan will take that into consideration or i would be put into a huge dilema between having a normal life in Japan (hopefully i can live there one day), and being tattooed and harder life.
It's nice how some of the people you spoke to think things should change so foreigners can be more accepted when they visit. I have large tattoos on my arms (Princess Mononoke and Rurouni Kenshin-themed). I would of course be respectful of any rules like not being able to go to an onsen, but I would like to! Thank you for another great video!
So an entire culture should change radically just to appease a few western foreigners huh?! Interesting! 🤔 💭 Sounds like ‘mental colonialism’ is still a thing nowadays 👁
I'm an American living in Yokohama and have several tattoos. The only time it's been an issue for me is having to cover them when I go to the gym, which makes it far less comfortable to exercise. Haven't tried an onsen yet, but that'll be a challenge depending on where I go.
Thanks for this Takashi! I enjoyed this video. I just came back from a 2 week trip in Japan and have full sleeve tattoos on each arm and a chest piece. I had a great time! and folks were super nice and respectful. The biggest issue I faced as a heavily tattooed person was when we stayed at a ryokan with onsen. They didn't have a private bath option so I wasn't able to use the facilities. Some people definitely stared when I wore short sleeve shirts or went sleeveless (older Japanese people and youngsters), but I paid them no mind. I'm sure they don't see heavily tattooed people often. I would say to all tattooed folks going to Japan: be respectful and read the room --cover your tattoos going into temples and shrines. If they don't allow tattooed folks in the onsen, ask if they have a private option. If they don't, do not push the subject and insist they cater to you; and next time do your research. Do your research on cultural norms observed by Japan and learn some of the language to get you by. I feel like this really softened Japanese folks perceptions of me when I made an effort. Can't wait for my next trip! I will be doing extensive research on tattoo friend onsen for my next trip. Cheers!
Pretty darn good journalism. *For the most part,* you ask the same questions, you don't lead people towards a mindset that could change their answer, interview a surprising variety of people, and try to avoid shoving your opinion into the video. Awesome!
I was surprised to hear their prospectives and how they’re concerned that foreigners may be discriminated against. That’s really caring! When I visited Japan I tried to take care of covering my tattoos because I didn’t want to put off anyone and visiting the country I wanted to be as respectful as possible.
I used to live in the south part of Brazil in a more traditional area, my first tattoo was on 2010 and back then older people really had a bad opinion on tattoos, my old boss threatened to fire me and i had to use long sleeves only. in 2023 that is basically non existent here.
We dont have this historic background with yakuza. But ALOT can happen in 10 years. Stay hopefull haha
that's so interesting! I went to porto alegre last week and I'm from a country that also has a very negative view of tattoos and it was so fascinating to see how every other person had a tattoo, regardless of age or profession. even the professors I worked with had big and visible tattoos so I just thought tattoos were a part of brazilian culture for a long time.
I actually am from Porto Alegre! around 2010 people had a really different view on people with tattoos, they seemed unprofessional, not fit for commitment, this kind of nonsense, in 15 years that changed drastically.
@@mateusluedke1295 wow that's super interesting! thank you for letting me know :)
Meu noivo é da área de saúde e é muito tatuado (eu sou a tatuadora inclusive), achávamos que poderia ser um problema no começo, mas até agora tudo bem. Ele tem tatuagens nas mãos e no pescoço.
@@JolieGirl2002 I live in Porto Alegre!
Here you can find all kinds of tattoos, from gorgeous museum-like pieces, stuff that's so bad it's good and stuff that could pretty much get you killed on the spot.
I’ll have to walk around Japan like a mummy 😂
As recently as the 70s and 80s in the USA, tattoos were still seen primarily as a bad thing. If you had them you had either been in Jail, a gang, the military, or maybe a rock band. I even had an elderly boss at my job yell at me for letting my tattoos be seen ... in the dressing area for changing clothes at work. (I'm an electrician)
I'm really glad that more and more places are allowing employees to have them openly, and I think that's a huge step toward acceptance in general. If you make people hide them, it just reinforces the taboo. Seeing them on younger employees in almost every field is more common now.
I just got back from my Japan trip; we travelled for a month and visited lots of cities. Being a person with tattoos, I knew about the tattoo 'issues' so I did my research since I réally wanted to experience onsen. We went to Beppu and I was so happy to find out the city and its onsen are totally tattoo friendly! Most other hotels with onsen in other cities didn't allow tattoos, so I went to Donki and bought tattoo covering stickers. It wasn't fun to cover my tattoos, but I felt, surely as a foreigner, it wasn't my place to judge another country's rules. I was happy to abbide to them. No one had an issue when they saw my tattoos, or the covered ones, in onsen. No one even made a remark about my septum. I still had the time of my life and miss the onsen already. It still won't stop me from getting tattoos.. I even got a tattoo in Tokyo! In my future travels I will surely continue looking for tattoo friendly onsen :)
I have tattoos and been told by friends who grew up or have family in japan to never visit. Most of them have told me that hotels will not accept my stay. It is interesting though to hear some of these opinions of foreigners with tattoos though. I think even the rest of the world has come a long way in their perception of tattoos as well.
I've had both opinions of "don't go" and "You'll be fine". If they're coverable, I think you'll mostly be fine (sans saunas), but otherwise it may not be the best idea.
Thanks for doing this one Takasii!
Honestly the most refreshing thing about these interviews is that even if they dont often talk about it or its not their interest, most Japanese people at least have a somewhat educated and/or well thought out answer to each question.
Japanese people seem a lot more "tuned in" to the goings on in the world and their country and are able to differentiate between their own opinions; And what they think is better overall for the good of a society. AND that sometimes those things are different. Goes to show that for whatever reason there's much more care and attention for society as a whole in Japanese culture
This is something I've been thinking about for awhile. I'm going to Japan for the first time ever in a couple weeks and my entire body is covered in tattoos, except for my face. I am kind of scared of the reactions or looks I may receive because of my tattoos along with not being able to speak Japanese. It's going to be an interesting adevnture!
That'd be interesting. Would you come back to this comment and let us know what happened if you may?
Be conscious that you will really frighten at least some people. And unfortunately you’ll not be able to go to most Onsen, which is too sad.
Basically just showing up to be an asshole lmao. “I don’t speak the language at all and my appearance makes the locals honestly, viscerally uncomfortable. Should be a fun time!”
Go somewhere else for vacation. You made choices, live with the consequences and don’t make strangers foot the bill for your shortsighted decision making.
@@Nonviableaccount I mean, you’re acting as if I regret my tattoos? 😂 I’m not ashamed or embarrassed by them. There’s no consequences to stand by, my life is fantastic.
Good try though.
I feel you. I have a full sleeve, and even in NA, there are people who will react negatively or treat you different in the beginning. But I didn’t get tattoos to make everyone else happy, I knew what I was signing up for.
I'd really love to see this interview repeated in some place like Koenji. It's such a wonderful community and I think many of the people here are much more accepting of alternative styles and tattoos 😊.
I plan on studying abroad to japna and your videos have been so educating and genuine when watching them. Gets me more excited to study abroad
I'm traveling to the Kansai region in November. Forgot about the tattoo issue. I've booked one hotel which has an Onsen, but no tattoos allowed :') ... I have one on my wrist and two under my collarbones. I'm super conscious about not making people feel uncomfotable, especially as a foreigner, so OK but it is also sad and disappointing being judged for having a tattoo. It used to be the same (and still is with some people) in the West, but SOOOOO many people have tattoos now no one really cares.
I'm at a hotel in Yokohama right now that has an Onsen as well. I don't have tattoos, but people with smaller tattoos are given the option to cover them with some kind of sticker. So maybe you'll be lucky. :) I'm sure you'll have a great time either way!
外国は日本と文化が違うから外国人がタトゥーを入れてても何も思わないし、むしろほとんどの人が入れてるイメージさえある。でも日本では昔から入れ墨＝完全にヤクザのイメージだし、タトゥーに関してもオシャレで入れてるのか、半グレやヤクザで入れてるのか区別がつかないから日本人でタトゥー入れてる人にはやっぱまだ抵抗ある。
super useful, thanks for this video
You are such a good interviewer. I love your questions and how you manage them. Very interesting and insightful. I love Japan.
I'm from the US and have five tattoos. I just visited Japan last month and through my entire stay the locals (both kids and adults alike) kept complementing my Snorlax tattoo (always smiling and pointing at it saying "Kabigon", which I later learned is it's Japanese name). No discriminatory vibes at all so don't let this deter you from visiting if you're an inked up tourist!
It's unfortunate that Japanese people can be scared of foreigners, but I appreciate their honesty. I would much rather have someone admit to it than pretend everything is fine.
It is very nice to the interviews with older people. Their opinions contrast pretty much with the youngest. Very interesting.
Thanks for sharing this video! I hope to visit Japan soon and as someone who has tattoos its good to know how people in Japan might react. I like to be as respectful as possible when traveling to new places and don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Im 19 and I wanted to get tattoos at 16. I love japanese culture and have been reading and watching the Dos and Donts of japan. Some establishments don't allow foreigners which I can't help being but other establishments don't allow people with tattoos to enter. Plus I want to live and work in japan which can prove difficult because there are a LOT of places that don't rent to foreigners or hire foreigners. So it's already hard enough to live comfortably as a foreigner in japan but having tattoos would further restrict what you can do, where you can live, what relationships you can have and what job you can get. I really want tattoos but living my best life in japan is more important.
The tattoo ‘fashion bug’ is only temporary in the mind, living your dream is 10000000000 x better. You have good critical thinking skills 👍
When I went to Japan in 2018, my friend and I were walking next to Osaka castle. We walked past 2 guys and one was heavily tattooed, he had neck tattoos. That was the first person I was noticeably alert around while in the country. His tattoos and style resembled gang styles you see here in California. Maybe he is a nice guy and just wanted to have that style, but even for me being used to seeing people with heat tattoos, I was still cautious.
Thanks for the vid dude, for me (as an Austrian) it's very interesting to hear the opinions from people from such a different culture then mine.
keep it going ✌🏼
As an American with an entire sleeve of tattoos that pay homage to the great Hayao Miyazaki and all his beautiful work he's shared with the world, I am so worried about going to Japan (a dream) because I'm self conscious of offending the culture. This video was very helpful and it's nice to see the Japanese people accept tattoos more as art and less of a gang symbol.
I have 5 tattoos and I've been to Japan 3 times. My personal rule for my tattoos is to not get anything that can be seen while wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I believe they are for you and not something to flash around. But that's just me and I do support tattoos pretty much anywhere on the body...except for maybe the face, that's a little intense. As for Japan's rules with tattoos, and just like all of their rules, we should respect them. It's their country, not ours.
Do you hide your clothes too? They're for you and not to flash around.
japanese fashion is so cool i love that everyone is able to express themselves in a unique way like that
Brother, when I saw the video sponsorship part, it genuinely made me happy. Because I have been a subscriber since long. And it just makes me happy to see your progress. Love your content! See you someday!
As someone who has tattoos in visible places and currently on my 5th tattoo removal session, I hope Japan stays the same. When I was younger I thought it was cool and unique but as I’ve gotten older I think they all look terrible no matter the subject or place on the body. Natural Japanese beauty 100% 😊
So...let me get this straight...you hope that Japan stays biggoted against people with harmless pictures on their skin, because you dont like how they look. Coming from a person, who hypocritically got them without reprecussions...
“Stays bigoted against”…”harmless pictures on their skin”, both your opinions. Tattoos have somewhat of a sinister origin/affiliation in Japan as did they in the US up until just recently. The US likes to skirt the bad boy image and the “I’m going to do what I want and not be restrained by society” mentality has a lot of pitfalls. The Japanese have just chosen to be more cautious about their approach and if tattoos are thrown into the mix, and deemed not good for society, so be it. 9 out of 10 prisoners are inked up and we find it surprising that the Japanese don’t like tattoos.
Nah, just yours looked terrible.
When I was growing up in America, tattoos weren’t as common and were seen as trashy. Some are cool, but they will always look bad as one ages. Also, in some professional settings they are never appropriate.
Tattoos don't look bad when you age as long as you take care of your skin. Silly statement tbh.
Tattoos are still trashy IMO
i've been to japan multiple times (7 times now) starting in 2014 and when i go i usually stay the entire tourist visa which is 3 months. i am heavily tattooed with visible tattoos on my hands and fingers. i have gotten tattooed in japan multiple times as well. on my last trip i definitely noticed that it was more relaxed compared to my other trips. i hadn't been to japan in about 6 yrs. this trip more places were open to public with tattoos. such as onsens and sentos. in past trips more of them were restricted for me because of my tattoos. i was even asked to cover them up in a bar one time many years ago, which did not happen to me this time. so i see it changing as the years go on forsure. it is slowly happening. i think the younger generations do not think the same as older generations... & many of my japanese friends that live in japan have tattoos. some don't. i would say it is about 60/40 with 60% having tattoos and 40% dont have any.
I'm heavily tattooed and have never encountered any issues except not being able to go to a paid onsen, however I've been to plenty of natural onsen and japanese people a extremely curious and are happy to talk to me about them.
The opinion on foreign tattooed people has changed since I first came to live in Japan 15 years ago thanks to the Rugby World Cup and Olympics.
I honestly think it's far more difficult for Japanese people than it is for anyone else when it comes to tattoos.
I hate tattoos, and the fact that most Japanese people reject them or associate them with crime makes Japan so much more appealing to me.
I'm Australian and I have a strong dislike of tattoos, especially on women. Nowadays it seems like nearly everyone has tattoos here, often very large and ugly ones. Ironically it now signifies conformity rather than being an individual.
I would say to Japan, don't change! The human body is much more beautiful without graffiti all over it.
I live in the USA and even here some people look down on people with tattoos. It’s more of the older generation and it’s not because they think they are ina gang they just think it looks trashy.
Takashii! Your English is better every time I see one of your videos! Keep up the great work!
I think tattoos are a good think because it says a lot about a person, just so we can avoid them. Some have criminal record and try to look tough and intimidating and some have annoying personalities (attention seekers, entitled, punks etc.).
Tattoos say almost nothing about a person lmao. They also have nothing to do with looking tough. I bet you judge people based on what t shirts their wearing.
@@darnarxz Yes I can, I can judge a person by how they dress.
I'm surprised that no one knew that tattoos aren't really 'forever' anymore now that there's tattoo removal services. Though I heard it hurts way more than the latter.
I'm coming to Japan working abroad in a couple weeks and I'm so glad you put these videos out! I'm actually half Japanese myself and so it gives me insight as an American as to what expect 🙏🏽
ありがとう!
I'll be flying into Japan in just a few days. As a relatively large, bearded, tattooed dude...this is quite an interesting video. Especially the older guy that said that foreigners are pretty scary. I've always been a relaxed, considerate person. So I'm quite curious as to how this first visit will go :)
How did it go? Did you visit that, like, 10 story tall porno store?
Very insightful questions! thank you
Love your videos TAKASHii! Learning so much about Japan, hope to visit someday if I can learn to speak enough to speak with locals :)
Thats some great work! Showing ppl the culture in a creative way.