Tattoo in the Onsen
Posted on 14. Jan, 2005 @ 9:08 pm by harvey in Culture Views: 745
In Japan public baths, and Onsen (Hot Springs) often have
policies that people with tattoos cannot use the facilities.
“IREZUMI – DEISUI NO KATA NO NYUUYOKU HA, GOENNRYOUKUDASAI.”
This roughly translates into..
“Persons with Tattoos, or who have consumed a heck of a lot of alcohol, please refrain from entering the onsen.”
Heh.
My friend entered anyway. Some other Japanese friends tell me
that these signs aren’t necessarily meant to keep people with small little fashionable tatoos like this out of the onsen.
The real purpose is to keep out Yakuza, who tend to have full body tattoos’
like this…
Here are some Yakuza movies if you’re interested…
Because Tattoo = Yakuza, and Yakuza in Onsen = Scared customers.
Gotta protect the “WA” 和。
-Harvey
Welcome to JapanNewbie.com! My goal is to get you excited about Japan and the Japanese language. Love it! This blog has been around for more than five years now, so be sure to dig into the archives and use the search. You never know what you might find!
Recent Comments:
- You know you’ve been in America too long when… From a Japanese Perspective (34)
- Methusta: LOL cool…i love seeing different peoples views on things we do ^_^~ i want some more x)~~
- Denki Anma Attack (4)
- Fudie: This awesome.I do this to my siblings all the time.now I have a technique name to scream when I perform it XD
- Traditional Japanese Home in the City (12)
- Swearing in Japanese (7)
- BenjaminMartin: Pretty interesting. Since I don’t study Kanji as much as I should, I usually figure out the meanings of the individual Kanji...
Pingback: Lockeblog » Onsen