Having a tattoo is not illegal in Japan per se. However, tattoo artists tend to work under the radar like their job, as any profession involving needles is legally subject to possession of a medical degree. The tide is turning, however, as in September 2020, Japan`s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a tattoo artist prosecuted for practicing medicine illegally. Japan is not yet completely open to tattoos, but the nation is on its way. Although they are legal, tattoos can cause disruption even for the most common people. The tattoo rules also apply to everyone, especially tourists and foreigners. So if you`re planning to visit Japan and have tattoos, make sure you really pay attention to the rules. If you`re traveling to Japan to get a tattoo there, be sure to do some thorough research. All in all, we wish you good luck! So, what should you do if you have a tattoo? First of all, you can try to visit the onsen and ryokan that allow tattoos. Contact them in advance and ask if the tattoos are CORRECT. They will apply as a friendly tattoo on their website. An example is Kusatsu.
Kusatsu is an onsen city that welcomes guests openly with tattoos. For this reason, you can`t just stumble upon a tattoo parlor in Japan. Tattoo artists keep their work restricted, especially because the majority do not have a doctor`s license. Fortunately, in September 2020, Japan`s Supreme Court ruled in favor of tattoo artists who don`t need to be doctors to be tattoo artists. Still, previous struggles remain, as tattoo artists tend to face public criticism and prejudice, as many Japanese (of the older generation) still associate tattoos and tattoo shops with underground, crime, and other negative associations. When Japan began to open up to the rest of the world in the Meiji era, the government was concerned about foreigners` perception of Japanese practices, including punitive tattooing. As a result, criminal tooing was banned and tattooing was usually forced to enter underground areas. Tattoos quickly became rare, and ironically, foreigners became more interested in Japanese tattoos, which certainly denied the purpose of the Japanese government of the time. The Supreme Court reversed this decision, stating that « tattoos require artistic skills different from medicine and that doctors cannot be assumed to perform the act exclusively, » and therefore concluded that the practice is not a medical act. I talked to Japanese people who got tattooed.
Here`s what I heard →In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese tattoo artists began to connect with tattoo artists from all over the world, exchanging practices, knowledge, and the art of Japanese tattooing. In fact, this was also the time when Japanese yakuza movies were made and became popular in the West. This would be the main reason why the world associates Japanese tattoos (hormimono – full-body tattoos) with yakuza and mafia. However, people around the world have recognized the beauty and art of Japanese tattoos, which to date are among the most sought after tattoo designs worldwide. But we decided to explore if it`s true or not, let`s dive right away! Let`s see if tattoos are legal or illegal in Japan! In 2015, and given the organization of major international sporting events such as the Rugby World Cup (2019) and the Olympic 🏅 Games (2020-2021), the Japanese government conducted an investigation targeting the tourism industry in terms of tattoos and how the many foreign visitors would be received, especially if they were tattooed. The Ministry of Tourism`s survey found that more than half of the responding establishments, whether hotels 🏨 or traditional ryokan inns, still had a negative perception of tattooed people and rejected them regardless of their origin, assuming they could be associated with organized crime. Fast forward to today, tattoos in Japan are still completely legal. However, there are a few issues that tattoo lovers encounter when deciding on a tattoo or even a tattoo business.
For those who are tattooed, especially those who have visible tattoos, life in Japan can also be difficult. Although tattoos are completely legal in Japan, the reality of getting tattooed and looking for work or even trying to establish a social connection with others shows how tattoos can affect quality of life. Unfortunately, employers are much less likely to hire you if you have a visible tattoo, and people will judge you on how you look, provided you`re associated with crime, the mafia, the underground, etc. While the legality of tattooing in Japan is now clear, the history behind this now officially recognized art form goes back thousands of years, and the taboo is pervasive. The Supreme Court`s logic for their decision was that tattooing is not a medical practice and is not practiced exclusively by doctors, so the law prohibiting tattoo artists without a medical license from their profession has lost its legal basis. If possible, it is highly recommended to cover visible tattoos. In the past, it was easier for business owners to reject people with tattoos, whether they live there or not. Now, with the increase in the number of tattooed travelers and locals, it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny them entry without receiving negative feedback from the public. Finding a suitable Japanese business label can help people better understand what to expect when faced with a company that bans tattoos.
Well, Irezumi, or the traditional Japanese style of art, was used to mark people who committed crimes. The meanings and symbols of tattoos varied from region to region and depended on the type of crime committed. Tattoos range from very simple line marks around the forearm to bold and clearly visible kanji symbol marks on the forehead. Although some people in Japan have tattoos, they are usually hidden under clothes. In the past, there have been reports of some companies firing employees when they found out they had a tattoo, so many young people in Japan don`t want to get tattooed or show their tattoos publicly. In fact, the situation in Japan is changing, slowly but noticeably. Young people in particular play an important role in raising awareness of the abuse of tattoo artists and tattoo artists in public life in Japan. Discrimination, although decreasing, is still present and affects the lives of young people. The norms surrounding tattoos in Japan are slowly but steadily changing, especially among the younger generation. We talked about the case to Travelin` Mick, the photographer and adventurer known in the tattoo world. His wife, Sana Sakura, was involved in the legal team working on the case.
« In fact, Japan`s second highest court ruled about a year ago that tattooing without a doctor`s license was no longer illegal, » he says. « The state prosecutor appealed to the Supreme Court because they disagreed. We were waiting for the Supreme Court to set a date, but to everyone`s surprise, they called the lawyers yesterday and told them they would not accept the case and would dismiss it. « In fact, tattoos are fine in Japan. They are in no way illegal. You can even see some people walking around with fashion tattoos, especially in Tokyo. This Supreme Court decision is great news for the tattoo community in Japan as it effectively legalizes tattooing. However, Presiding Judge Koichi Kusano also said new laws need to be developed to regulate the potential health risks associated with tattooing, suggesting that future regulations may be underway.
刺青/入れ墨 (irezumi): Literally « insert ink » – traditional Japanese-style tattoos, similar to tattoos worn by yakuza. The decision could pave the way for legal and regulated tattooing in Japan. Before we get into the main topic, it`s important that we dive a little deeper into the history of tattoos in Japan. Well, the world-famous traditional Japanese art of tattooing was developed hundreds of years ago during the Edo period (between 1603 and 1867).