I’ve been learning Japanese for quite a few years now. I’ve been to Japan and I really appreciate the language and culture.
I also really love tattoos. For personal reasons, I really connect with the symbolism of hannya. I’ve always wanted a hannya on my back, something I would keep covered of course, but it would personally mean a lot to me.
I want to ask honestly, if you’re a Japanese person, what do you think of this? Would you be offended if you found out I had it and was working or visiting your country? I would really love to know your thoughts, good and bad. I do not want to appropriate or offend in any way.
Also, maybe this is stupid but.. since it’s a Japanese symbol I wouldn’t be like, mistaken as someone unsavoury would I? For context I’m a young caucasian woman who speaks Japanese 🙂
6 comments
I’d suggest using your japanese to ask a japanese community 🙂
I am a native Japanese. Being over 50, I’m in the elderly category.
First of all, you are free to do any tattoo. I think many Japanese will understand you “as a foreigner who likes Japanese culture”.
However, a certain number of Japanese people do not like tattoos. Many public bathhouses in Japan prohibit the entry of people with tattoos. I don’t think it’s unnatural to have a workplace that doesn’t accept employment on the basis of tattoos.
At this point, if you want to be accepted by an unspecified number of Japanese people, it is better not to have tattoos.
I can’t answer your questions, but here’s some food for thought:
Tattoos are not permitted at places like onsen and covering it with swimwear is also often not permitted so as not to have remnants of detergents, bleach, and even cloth fibres get in the water. You might have seen people on TV wearing towels in the water, but it’s mostly because censorship laws override traditional bathing customs. If it’s small, you could cover the tattoo with a bandaid or something. Otherwise, if you wanted to experience public bathing in full without any hassle, I’d say do that first before getting inked.
I wouldn’t be offended by tattoos at all but could be a little intimidated if they are big enough to cover half of your back, for example.
And you have to know that Japanese traditional tattoos remind us too much of Yakuza.
To be honest, a big Hannya definitely put me off.
Are you worried about “cultural appropriation”?
To respond as a foreigner living in Japan with full irezumi sleeves and an oni covering my torso, I’ve had mostly positive reactions. I may get the occasional teeth sucking from ojiisans I pass on the street, but if anyone comments on it it’s always かっこいい’s and きれい’s. Tattoos do still carry a little bit of a stigma here, but times are changing. I’ve seen many heavily tattooed young Japanese, and as a foreigner, honestly, you kinda get a pass. I think many people are happy with your appreciation of the culture. Irezumi has a long history in the tattoo industry and is not at all seen as some kind of cultural appropriation.
If it makes you happy, get the tattoo.