Tattoos still give Japan the needle as Olympics loom

But many older artists are fiercely protective of tattooing's underground roots and resist the idea that it should become a legitimate profession.

I don't have or want any--it's a generational thing--but to each his/her own. That said, isn't the attitude reflected above part of the reason stigma about tats remains so widespread? Wouldn't making the practice legit lead to a lot more revenue for the industry?

Japanese people are scared of Yakuza, they basically lump anyone with Tatoos in that category. It is easier for a company to say no tattoos than no Yakuza

It's pathetic the way people discriminate against tattoos," Izumi said while getting an Aztec skull inked onto her leg. "People might think I look a little scary," she added, taking a drag on her cigarette. "But I don't regret getting inked."

Amazing how an ex porn star shows more common sense and personality than the majority of the sheeple here

gogogoToday  07:19 am JST Japanese people are scared of Yakuza, they basically lump anyone with Tatoos in that category.

I don't think this applies to foreign residents or visitors with tattoos. I think the problem for Japanese is that they've looked down on tattoos for decades because they were, are associated with criminality so it's hard to understand why other Japanese would want visible tattoos. I just wonder why someone would want to have them, particularly sleeves, as they will look like crap in a decade or two.

Wouldn't making the practice legit lead to a lot more revenue for the industry?

It would commercialize it I guess, move it from an underground kind of art/handicraft by someone dedicated to it for decades to a widely accessible commodity. I bet whole bunches of newcomers to the business would set up shop and start offering at lower prices. Consumers would be happy but quality, legacy, story attached to the tattoos would probably slowly disappear.

At the root of much of the prejudice towards tattoos in Japan is the ancient Confucian idea that defacing the body inherited from one's parents is disrespectful, according to Ashcraft.

I have heard this about ear-piercing as well. Many parents forbid it, my own husband vehemently opposed me getting a 2nd piercing in my ear, and they say reasons like this. It's just a different culture. I facetiously point out that so much drinking, smoking, and eating of processed food can't be respectful to our bodies inherited from our parents either, but it's generally not a productive point to make to people who have these beliefs.

People in Japan tend to care too much about others and what others think of them. While this does make for a culture that is more polite than many others, it also makes for pretty passive aggressive attitudes and bland societal norms (especially among the older generations). I agree, face and neck tats aren't something a lot of people want in the office but who cares? Its their choice and they have gone in well knowing what lies ahead when making the choice to get inked.

Some really good artists in Japan. All my ink has been done in Japan, so far. Japanese artists definitely have a style of their own.

it also makes for pretty passive aggressive attitudes

I thought that was a standard template for conversation here.

and bland societal norms (especially among the older generations)

While true of all ages--all the dreaded black--fashion among the over-60 crowd is about as inspiring as that observed in North Korea.

"I wasn't really an Amuro fan but I thought her tattoos were cute," the 29-year-old told AFP. "When my mum first saw my tattoo she burst into tears and I thought my dad was going to kill me. But I like being a bit different."

Hopefully this was before she became a porn star, otherwise her parents have gotten their priorities wrong!

Gets tattoos because of a pop star and then turns to porn? With such great decision-making skills I can't imagine why the country isn't listening to her.

I wasn't really an Amuro fan but I thought her tattoos were cute," the 29-year-old told AFP. "When my mum first saw my tattoo she burst into tears and I thought my dad was going to kill me.

Tattoo's, Pornstar and a smoker some really dud decisions to date - we can imagine the reaction of the parents to them finding out that she is doing porn assuming they're talking to her at all.

Tattoo's, Pornstar and a smoker some really dud decisions to date

To say nothing about agency call-girl (she currently works out of a Shibuya delivery health shop).

Not a big fan of tattoos, for the most part I think they’re ugly, but sometimes they look good on certain people, but it depends, style, how many, which part of the body.

Tattoos are fine.

But I guess worrying about them allows people to ignore things that are important.

But I like being a bit different."

Is tatto magic? making you different from others? or from yourself?

Anyone?

The 'no tattoos' signs hanging at onsen might as well just say 'no Yakuza'.

I've got a big piece covering much of my back and nobody has ever said a word about it to me at an onsen. I think it's quite obvious that as a white dude, I'm not a member of any Yakuza faction.

"I wasn't really an Amuro fan but I thought her tattoos were cute," the 29-year-old told AFP. "When my mum first saw my tattoo she burst into tears and I thought my dad was going to kill me.

Wonder what they thought then when she told them she's a porn star, lol

To say nothing about agency call-girl (she currently works out of a Shibuya delivery health shop).

Hah, how perfect! If anything such a girl speaking out will give the opposition more ammo that only delinquents and people with no morals end up with tattoos and the mainstream Japanese person will only have their stereotypes reinforced. From tattoos to AV to prostitution, better stay away!

Retired porn star Izumi with her cute collection of tats and her developing smoker’s cough- what a fine model of what not to copy, she is........

Retired porn star Izumi with her cute collection of tats and her developing smoker’s cough- what a fine model of what not to copy, she is........

Seriously. She still looks ok I guess, but fast forward 15 years when she's the owner of a hole in the wall snack bar with 3 bar stools on the 6th floor of some derelict building that smells like kerosene fumes behind a train station in Saitama, with a weathered face that looks to be chiseled from formica and a voice like the chef on South Park.