Tattoos in Japan: Culture Controversy

Tattoos have been used throughout history in many cultures for many different purposes. Around the world, ancient societies have used them to make their warriors appear more fearsome when going into battle, to tell the story of the wearer, in order to make their women more attractive (or unattractive to other tribes), and in the case of some Buddhist cultures there is a religious aspect to them. Here in Japan, the indigenous Ainu and Ryukyu people both practiced the art of tattooing for similar purposes. Unfortunately, as those cultures have started to disappear, so too has their tattoo culture. And while there are some individuals who are attempting to keep it alive, there is some fear that before long the only proof of existence will be in history books and museums. As time has gone on, society has had varying opinions on tattoos, and sometimes being banned in order to suppress a minority culture.

In modern times, however, many places around the world have come to accept tattoos as an art form used by people to express themselves. For someone with tattoos, if they were to travel to just about anywhere in the world, there is a high probability that they would not have any issues, albeit some people might look at them differently. That probability drops significantly though when coming to Japan, where it is not uncommon for people with tattoos to find themselves unable to enter certain places. So why is this? What makes Japan so different from other countries around the world that have started to become more accepting of tattoos and the people who wear them?

History of Tattoos in Japan

The Indigenous Ainu of Hokkaido

For the indigenous cultures of Japan, tattooing was part of their religion, as well as a necessary part of their lifestyle, and was largely practiced by women. Ainu women, the native inhabitants of the area known as Hokkaido today, were the only ones allowed to have and give facial tattoos. They did so because they believed that tattoos were passed down from the gods, made them more beautiful, and most importantly, protected them from evil spirits. The striking lip tattoos began at a young age, and continued until the girls had matured, signifying that they were ready to marry.

The Indigenous Ryuku of Okinawa

In Okinawa, tattooing was practiced by the Ryukyu women as well, although with some slight variations. First off, instead of facial tattoos, Ryukyu women tattooed their hands as a way to signify the transition from child to adult. Secondly, tattoos were used to show social class, with women from the upper-class adorning themselves in intricate designs that started at their hands and followed up their arms.

Tattoos during the Edo Period

But it isn’t just the far reaches of Japan that has a history of tattoos, for on the main island of Honshu, people also took part in this practice. During the Edo period, tattooing was used to mark people in certain career fields. A soldier might have been marked in order to identify his body in case of death on the battlefield, while a firefighter or other laborer may have been influenced to get one through the images seen in the popular art style of the time, ukiyo-e.

Around this same time period, the Japanese government was expanding its reach to the northern and southernmost parts of the country, and in these areas, they outlawed tattooing as a way to subjugate and assimilate the local cultures into their own. Tattooing at this point started being used as a way to mark those who had committed crimes, and as such, began the correlation between tattoos and criminals. Yakuza gang members saw tattooing as a process that showed their commitment to the lifestyle and used a new decorative style to hide the marks once given for crimes committed.

Tattoos in Modern Japan

Since that time, several hundred years ago, tattoos have changed immensely; in use, as well as acceptance, around the world. Many societies around the world now accept people with tattoos, and it is becoming more and more common to see them in various workplaces. In Japan however, the stigma remains, with tattooed individuals being barred from onsen and other public areas where it is thought that their art may be deemed offensive for other people to see. This originally started out as a way to prohibit yakuza members from entering, but now it restricts many foreigners from participating in these same activities; something that many people find unfair. And while the Japanese government lifted the ban on tattoos after World War II, it is still a practice that some businesses uphold in certain areas of the country.

Before tattooed visitors come to Japan, they may hear that Japanese people are not fond of tattoos and worry about how they could be treated during their stay here. As someone who lives in Japan and has a number of large pieces covering my arms and legs, let me be the first to tell you that you have nothing to worry about. During my time here, the reactions I’ve seen to my own and my friends’ tattoos, have generally been pleasant. There may occasionally be someone who does not like them, and they might tell you that, but it’s not likely to happen often and should hopefully be easy enough to shrug off if it does. This also depends, however, on the tattoos you have, because something we think of as ‘cool’ might be ‘scary’ to others, but generally it’s not a big deal. At worst, you may be given extra room on the train, and some people might stare and silently judge you. However, the restriction of tattoos being visible at onsen is still present, so be sure to look up the ones in Tokyo that accept tattoos, or better yet, find a nice ryokan that offers a private onsen experience. Those are the most enjoyable anyway!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.