Job Discussion Forums

[gesundheit71]

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.

[kovac]

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....

[quai]

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!

[lajzar]

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.

[gesundheit71]

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.)

[gesundheit71]

[gesundheit71]

[denise]

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

[foster]

The majority of people are ok with it but I have had friends who had troubles with older people. One guy has a sleeve tatoo but kept it covered with a long sleeve shirt. One day, he helped an older lady when her grocery bag fell over. As he was scoopingup oranges and whatnots, she was thanking him profusely, until he reached a little farther and his sleeve moved up and showed part of the tat...she screamed and hit him with her bag and ran off.

A bit extreme I think...but some people may over-react.

I have 9 ear peircings as well as an ankle tatoo. Kept the Tat covered at work(Nova) and no-one said anything about the earrings, as I usualy wear small hoops and studs. My students (private) actually wanted to know the story of why I got my tatoo.

Some gyms may not allow you membership with a tatoo, as you may be Yakuza!! HA!!! But many have a NO TATOO policy to keep out the yakuza.

I agree with Denise...if some girl/bloke sat next to me in an onsen covered in bandages and whatnot, I would be MUCH more worried than a kanji tatoo or two.

[articulate_ink]

I've been wondering about this too. I have 8 tattoos. If I were to wear a short-sleeve polo shirt, two of the arm ones would be visible. Neither of them are huge -- I'm a pretty slender guy and don't have that much real estate to work with -- but they're definitely there. Also have a fine gold wire hoop through each earlobe, and a pierced navel. Obviously the navel and most of my tats won't be on public display, but as I'm just starting to research moving abroad (Japan or Korea most likely) to teach, I'd like to know what to expect. Thoughts on guys with discreetly pierced ears? Will being gaijin be enough of an allowance in itself, in most cases?

[TokyoLiz]

While at work, you gotta take those hoops out. It's generally not acceptable for men to wear earrings. However, there are always exceptions.

The pierced navel, well, unless you're planning to bare your midrif like Britney Spears, you should be okay

[articulate_ink]

I'm curious to know what the exceptions are. My earrings are unobtrusive wire loops, and aren't especially noticeable. (But then, I live in Seattle and spent four years in San Francisco, with an intervening smidgen of time in Portland. Subtlety by US West Coast standards wouldn't necessarily transfer to Japan.) As for the navel, while my midriff is looking pretty decent these days, teaching is one of those clothes-stay-on kinda jobs...

[denise]

I know that there are several posters on this board who've been here far, far longer than me and know much more of the customs, norms, taboos, etc., but I just want to add that it depends on the school. I've heard and read all sorts of things about what is "acceptable," and I believe them and trust the sources, but when I look around me, I see male teachers with long hair who come to school in jeans. I don't know if they have any visible piercings (me being incredibly unobservant), but I'm inclined to say that at least one of them does.

I teach college-aged students in a very American-oriented environment. Several of them have piercings, in various places, and neither they nor the staff has objected to those of us teachers who are pierced/tattooed.

d