So I’ve been living in Japan for almost about three years. And two years ago I picked up body piercing just for myself, just to have nice jewelry. But over time people started coming to me for piercing them, which I had no problem I always kept everything sanitary and had fresh new stainless steel jewelry for them. Just for some context these are American foreigners coming to me from military bases. I wanna be able to make a business out of body piercing here, but I can’t find any apprenticeships or ways to actually get a certificate for body piercing. If anyone knows how I can start an apprenticeship or get certified please let me know. Thank you!
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/x15o4n/i_want_to_become_a_piercer_in_japan_does_anyone/
3 comments
The certificate would be a license to practice medicine.
In Japan, piercing is considered a medical procedure and you run the risk of being arrested and prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license if you perform piercings on others.
Yes, there are shops here that do it. There have also been arrests.
So, short of completing medical school and becoming a licensed physician in Japan, there is no way for you to *legally* go about this.
EDIT:
Nurses can also perform the procedure.
Alternate title: “So how do I legally stab people in Japan?”
GL OP , you’re fighting an unwarranted social faux pas.
So just to clarify I’ve always used needles on myself and others( always stainless steel and 22-18 G). And I understand that to “legally” do these procedures I’ll have to go to medical school, but realistically no one would go to medical school just to become a piercer. I was just hoping someone would have some info if there was a way to get an apprenticeship for this. I do find it kind of ridiculous that tattoo artist here don’t require an license or certificate, I have a friend who works at a tattoo shop near me and no one there as far I know has any licensing.
Which is odd considering they’re basically working with an bigger open wound, while piercing is a much more quicker procedure and a smaller wound. It’s just frustrating wanting to make this hobby I’m really passionate about into a business but it’s basically legal unless I literally become a doctor/nurse.