Kanpai Quigley
Sophia University Hopeful
- 21 Dec 2006
- 16
- 0
- 11
Alright, as anyone in the U.S. knows, coming across someone with tattoos and/or piercings is more commonplace than coming across someone without. I am a big fan of getting ink done, and I plan on getting many more tattoos than what I already have (2 on my arm that aren't visible with a t-shirt on.) I'm also into piercings, and have been wanting to get both sides of my lower lip done for a while now ("snake bites") but my job wouldn't allow it...
My question is this - are piercings and tats still as taboo in Japan as my Nihongo professor seemed to think they were about a decade ago? I was told to hide my tattoos at all times, because I would be affiliated with organized crime. I am aware of the traditional Yakuza tattoo, but come on... people outside of Japan's crime families have got to have SOME tattoos, right?
If I'm moving to Tokyo in March, should I SERIOUSLY hold off on getting any more work done? Will any visible tattoos/piercings have detrimental effects on possible jobs, relationships, etc? I find that girls here in the States are often turned on by tattoo'd and pierced guys, but I feel like Japanese girls might run away screaming if I took my shirt off and revealed my ink.
Anyone have personal experience with this situation? Any Japanese that could lend some insight?
Thanks so much
My question is this - are piercings and tats still as taboo in Japan as my Nihongo professor seemed to think they were about a decade ago? I was told to hide my tattoos at all times, because I would be affiliated with organized crime. I am aware of the traditional Yakuza tattoo, but come on... people outside of Japan's crime families have got to have SOME tattoos, right?
If I'm moving to Tokyo in March, should I SERIOUSLY hold off on getting any more work done? Will any visible tattoos/piercings have detrimental effects on possible jobs, relationships, etc? I find that girls here in the States are often turned on by tattoo'd and pierced guys, but I feel like Japanese girls might run away screaming if I took my shirt off and revealed my ink.
Anyone have personal experience with this situation? Any Japanese that could lend some insight?
Thanks so much