Tattoos Becoming More Mainstream and Fashionable in Japan

The traditional image of tattoos is of Yakuza and gang related people. Some non-Japanese people think that coming to Japan with tattoos, they will be mistaken for Yakuza themselves. This is not really a concern because obviously people in Japan are aware that tattoos in other countries do not carry the same connotations. In addition to this, tattoos are gradually inking their way into the mainstream.

One of the first famous people in Japan I remember openly showing tattoos is the Japanese pop diva Namie Amuro. She currently appears in an ad campaign for McDonald’s quarter pounders and double quarter pounders.

It is becoming more and more common to see people with tattoos visible below the sleeve line of T-shirts, around ankles, or on the shoulder blade. Tattoo parlors are increasing in Japan as well, but because of tattoos being traditionally in the realm of the underworld, there is still not as much recognition and regulation as in countries such as the United States. They also tend to be pricey, and lack the aftercare, advice, and abundance of reliable information on the internet that one can find in English.

If you are in Japan, there can be some benefits to getting a tattoo here, not the least of which is the fact that you can be positive that the “Japanese character” you’ve got tattooed on your body is correct and written with the proper stroke order! You may want to be careful and ask the owner as many questions as you can (Japanese language ability or Japanese friends are a big plus here) to find out about how sterile the shop is, and the artists’ professional memberships and training. Many of the younger tattoo artists in Japan have gone overseas to learn more modern techniques or import equipment from the West.

It may be best to check out tattoo shops in Japan on the internet before hand to see what their sterilization equipment, training, and policies are.

It’s summer again in Japan and so the tank tops are back showing more tattoos this year than any year I remember. The preferred location for both men and women seems to be the upper arm, followed by the back, and lower legs. Tribal designs and animals seem to dominate, but that’s only based on casual observation.

At any rate, it seems that tattoos are gradually ceasing to be a “yakuza” only thing and increasingly finding their way into Japanese mainstream society. I only wonder how long it will be before my local banker feels comfortable enough to roll up his sleeves and reveal a nice dragon tattoo on his forearm!