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Cultural "taboo" of tattoos, piercing, etc -- how

 
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gesundheit71



Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 18
Location: New York, NY
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 5:49 pm    Post subject: Cultural "taboo" of tattoos, piercing, etc -- how Reply with quote
Hi,

I'm applying to teach English in Japan and I keep hearing about what a grave cultural taboo it is to have any tattoos or piercings. Well, I have both, and ones that can be easily covered with long sleeves, or even short sleeves that go almost to the elbow. Obviously I can fully cover everything in work clothes. But how "taboo" is it, really? Meaning, in my general day-to-day life, socially and being out at restaurants and bars, etc. If I have an exposed tattoo, is it really going to be that big a deal to people?

Ironically one of my tattoos is actually in Kanji, but that one is on my back and can be covered even in a substantial tank top, so although it's a little weird, it's not the major issue.

Is this something I should be giving a moment's thought to?

Thanks.
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kovac



Joined: 12 Apr 2003
Posts: 78
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
the only person that will give it a moments thought is yourself, if they are covered up and wont affect your work / employment, why worry, do you really think if Japanese people see a westerner with a tatoo they might think you are some long lost cousin of the yakuza ? Your just another gaijin with "tats"....

oh and "kanjii" tattoos are about as cool as having a coca cola ad tattoo emplazoned across your chest, might be mysterious back home, but here its just another day to day word....One friend swore he had "ambition" tatooed on his arm till it turned out his tattoo was actually the word for soba....
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quai



Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Posts: 12
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
what does the kanji on your back read? If it said something like "all japs are pricks" then i would be covering it up... otherwise... who cares!
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lajzar



Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Give up on any thoughts of going to an onsen, as well as certain hotels. Other than that, as long as you keep tattoos covered, no problem.

For piercings, as long as they are not visible, no one cares. Ear piercings are considered normal for women. Beyond that, it is considered strange, but allowances for piercings may be made because you are not Japanese. Same as back home really; most people (nb most != rational) would question the ability of of a teacher with nose and lip piercings.
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gesundheit71



Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 18
Location: New York, NY
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:22 pm    Post subject: tattoos Reply with quote
Wow, okay. I didn't think I was super-cool for it or anything, I was just worried b/c a lot of the websites about teaching make a REALLY big deal about it as if I would be a social pariah of some sort if anyone caught a glimpse (which seemed absurd so I asked). I've never been there so I didn't know.

And I *definitely* know the kanji tattoo will be very stupid-looking over there as it's just another word, which is why I plan to pretty much cover that at every moment. (But I did actually to verify it before I got it many years ago with dictionaries and trusted friends... as silly as the whole venture may seem now.)


kovac wrote:
the only person that will give it a moments thought is yourself, if they are covered up and wont affect your work / employment, why worry, do you really think if Japanese people see a westerner with a tatoo they might think you are some long lost cousin of the yakuza ? Your just another gaijin with "tats"....

oh and "kanjii" tattoos are about as cool as having a coca cola ad tattoo emplazoned across your chest, might be mysterious back home, but here its just another day to day word....One friend swore he had "ambition" tatooed on his arm till it turned out his tattoo was actually the word for soba....
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gesundheit71



Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 18
Location: New York, NY
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
quai wrote:
what does the kanji on your back read? If it said something like "all japs are pricks" then i would be covering it up... otherwise... who cares!


Hee hee! Nope, it doesn't say that. But still, I want to cover that one up anyway because I'll feel like a big loser with just a phrase written on my back -- I'd have to chuckle at someone here in the U.S. with something just written in English on their back, no matter WHAT it said.

It was more the arm one I was worried about, but it sounds like it's not half the concern people were making about it. (I mean seriously, I saw the phrase "extreme cultural taboo" more than once!)
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gesundheit71



Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 18
Location: New York, NY
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
lajzar wrote:
Give up on any thoughts of going to an onsen, as well as certain hotels. Other than that, as long as you keep tattoos covered, no problem.

For piercings, as long as they are not visible, no one cares. Ear piercings are considered normal for women. Beyond that, it is considered strange, but allowances for piercings may be made because you are not Japanese. Same as back home really; most people (nb most != rational) would question the ability of of a teacher with nose and lip piercings.


Yikes, no, I do not think anyone would hire me to work with children (or adult students, for that matter) if I had a bunch of metal sticking out of my face. (Nor would I want to.)
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denise



Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some onsens are OK. There are a few I go to that I know are OK with tattoos because they've never asked me to leave. And when in doubt, a few properly-placed bandages do the trick. (Although if I saw someone covered in bandages sitting next to me in a public bath, I'd be much more worried than I would be sitting next to someone covered in tattoos...)

d
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