What is Japan's approach to tattoos supplies?

In recent years, Japan has become a society that is confusingly tolerant of tattoos supplies, compared to the past few decades. As in many countries around the world, the number of people who wear tattoos casually is increasing, especially among the younger generation, and few people have a special prejudice or dislike for tattoos. The reality is that it is gradually being accepted. The increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan may also play a part in this factor.

Even so, it cannot be said that the Japanese custom of directly linking tattoo supplies as "bad things" with the image of the past has disappeared. In fact, there are still many cases today that people with tattoos are refused to use at facilities such as hot springs / public baths, swimming pools, and sea bathing. Some foreign tourists do not know this situation, saying, "I came to Japan with all my might, but why do I just have a tattoo on a hot spring?Is it possible to enter? ”, And there are many cases where it causes a little trouble.

However, the number of foreigners visiting Japan is increasing every year at an astonishing speed, and the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 are on the horizon. While the number of foreign visitors to Japan will continue to increase, Japan will have to be a country that can accept diversity. In response to this situation, the Japan Tourism Agency conducted a questionnaire survey on bathing facilities in various parts of Japan regarding how to deal with people who have tattoos on their bodies. Based on the results of this survey, we are proceeding with efforts to encourage each facility to improve their response.

Here, in addition to the results of the questionnaire survey conducted by the Japan Tourism Agency and the current efforts of Japanese society for tattoos, the views and facts of foreign women living in Japan who have some tattoos on their bodies regarding Japan and tattoos. Through experiences and interviews, we will approach the reality of the tattoo situation in Japan.

Results of a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency: Tattoo = no bathing at 56% of facilities in Japan?

As the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan continues to increase year by year, there are many cases in which problems develop between bathing facilities and foreign tourists visiting Japan over the presence or absence of tattoos and the availability of bathing. In order to prevent such conflicts between foreign tourists and facilities related to tattoos, the Japan Tourism Agency is conducting a fact-finding survey on how Japanese facilities respond to bathing by foreign tourists with tattoos.

In the same survey, questionnaires were sent to about 3,800 accommodation facilities, including hotels and inns all over Japan, and responses were received from about 600 facilities.

Question item 1 What is the response to people who have tattoos supplies?

·         Facilities that answered "I refuse to take a bath" (about 56%)

·         Facilities that answered "I allow bathing" (about 31%)

According to the survey results (about 9%) , the number of facilities that refuse to take a bath is surprising. The most common reason for refusing to take a bath was "I make a voluntary decision based on morals and hygiene" (about 59%). If it is not good in terms of morals and satellites, it means that the treatment of "tattoo = evil" still remains in Japan.

As mentioned at the beginning, tattoos suppling criminals as an old Japanese practiceThere was a custom. This may also be one of the reasons why it is directly linked to the image of "bad morals" that was answered by more than half of the respondents in this survey.

Another reason that can be considered as a major cause and effect is that there is also an old Japanese practice that "members of antisocial forces put in a tattoo to show loyalty to the organization." These formed the image of "tattoo = evil", and many bathing facilities have a history of restricting the entry of people with tattoos on their bodies in order to ensure the safety of users. Answers such as "due to rules between industry and local businesses" (about 13%) and "due to requests / guidance from police and local governments" (about 9%) are considered to be due to the same reason.

As you can see from the answer to Question 1, more than half of the facilities in Japan are banned from admission because of tattoos supplies. If nothing is done, not only will foreign tourists with tattoos not be able to enjoy the hot springs, but it may also lead to a great loss for Japan, which is trying to put more effort into inbound tourism. Therefore, the Japan Tourism Agency has compiled points to keep in mind regarding bathing for foreign tourists with tattoos and examples of how to deal with them, and is urging each facility to improve their response based on this. The information that the Japan Tourism Agency sends to bathing facilities is as follows.