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Deicide

Where I work currently I can go to work with my 3 earings, jeans and a t-shirt with my tatoos poking out of my sleeves. I assume no matter what job it is in Japan a suit and tie is a must and there is no way around it?! And due to the reputation thing I guess even at weekends I couldn't relax and wear jeans and a t-shirt and my earings? How does that work in Japan? Cheers...D

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

If you are going to be working in one of the eikaiwa chains then your earrings will almost certainly have to come out during your working hours. Don't even think about turning up to an interview with them. As far as weekends are concerned, providing you're not working at the time, there should be no problem with them.

As for your tattoos, it could be a problem if you want to sign up to certain gyms (as you said you wanted to do in a previous thread). Alot of gyms have a strict no-tattoo policy (to discourage gang members).

When it comes to work, dress as conservatively as you can (at least until you know what is acceptable).

Deicide · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:48 pm Post subject:

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Yup. In the gym where I am a member, they will refuse your membership app. if they find out you have a tattoo. Not that it has stopped many from joining... Unless you have a ton of art, most people find a way to cover them up. Sure it's obvious what's going on when you see people walking around with large white bandages plastering their upper body, but it follows the rules...

As for work... Um.... Every situation is different. I know of a fellow working at an eikaiwa who's tattooed almost literally from head to toe. Go figure. That particular eikaiwa only has a rule about wearing button-up collar shirts (tie not necessary) and jeans are disallowed -- but aside from that, they have a real motley crew working for em.

But rules of professionalism in applying for a job are relevant. Cover up the tats, remove the body jewelry, wear nice clothes. Otherwise you may not get past the first 10 minutes of the interview.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

And if you want to go swimming at a public pool, you will have to wrap something over the tatoo, put a bandage over it or something like that. Simple, no tatoos.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Depends on the pool/ gym. I have been to a pool in Meguro, Tokyo, with a very tattooed friend of mine- they didn't have that rule , so he could get in. Others have introduced a "nothing bigger than the palm of your hand" rule.

To the OP- do what you like on your days off, but you're better off not dropping into the school in civvies. You probably won't want to anyway...