Last year, 15 million people visited Japan, setting a new record. Millions more are expected. Many foreigners, eager to see the sights and spend cash, are tattooed. Most Japanese are not. This is ...

Public pools. Gyms. Resorts. It’s common to see “no tattoos allowed” signs at establishments like this. In Japan, there is certainly a stigma towards tattoos. But why? The easiest explanation, of ...

While body art is widely accepted in many countries, tattoos are considered taboo in Japan, especially in public places like bathhouses, gyms and even workplaces. Because of this stigma, tattoo ...

In Japan, tattoos have long carried a stigma due to their association with irezumi, the traditional ink of yakuza gangsters. In the past, this negative connotation could make job hunting more ...

From starkly rendered waves crashing over a shoulder to a stern samurai warrior wielding a sword on one’s back, the striking designs expressed in Japanese tattoos are among the most iconic in the ...

Norms surrounding tattoos in Japan are slowly but steadily changing, especially among the younger generation. I spoke to Japanese people who had gotten tattoos. Here’s what I heard → Japan has a ...