Inked Talk

Until recently, tattoos in America have been largely restricted to sailors and bikers. Similarly, tattoos in Japan have traditionally been associated with Japan’s organized crime body - the Yakuza. The Yakuza have historically used extensive full body tattooing as means of identification and as status symbols. For this reason, tattoos have long had a negative connotation in Japan.

Older Japanese still tend to associate tattoos with organized crime, and for that reason public baths in Japan have often restricted the entry of anyone with tattoos.

Even though Japanese water parks are targeted at a younger generation, tattooed people in Japan still have a hard time locating a water park that will allow them in. The business owners reason that tattoos are still frightening to some due to the Yakuza connection, and seeing tattooed people walk around the water park would make some of the customers nervous.

With more and more young Japanese people getting tattoos that are totally unrelated to Yakuza activities, Japan is seeing a slight change in the no-tattoo policies. A small minority of water parks do allow tattooed patrons, but they require that all tattoos be fully covered while in the park. That’s not always an easy task. Long sleeved shirts and long pants make little sense at a water park on a hot day.

In America, the attitude and perception of tattoos has changed greatly in the past twenty years. Japan is sure to eventually follow suit as the association between tattoos and Yakuza activity becomes diluted. Until then, tattooed people in Japan will have to deal with their society’s outdated perceptions of body art and the restrictions that come with it.