Hashimoto clashes with Osaka officials over tattoo survey

Wanker.

I've been doing some thinking on this topic. IMO the best way to legally approach this is to associate the question with sexual harassment. Asking a woman if she has any tattoos on her body could easily be deemed the same as asking if she has full bloom areola. It's really none of the employers business.

If the tattoo is not exposed then it's none of your business.

One of my coworkers was recently sweated for her tongue ring that you really can't see unless you focus in on it. Naturally some bureaucratic Japanese student complained about it. It was basically a stud that most people never noticed. What's amazing about this story is she had one of the best smiles ever. Her teeth looked like she spent a million bucks on them. There's always someone who's going to take issue with WHO you are.

Don't ask, don't tell works just fine HERE.

HawkeyeMay. 29, 2012 - 01:21AM JST

No, Hashimoto has no right to ask that question to single out some workers with tatoos. Please read some constitutional reasonings listed above.. Thank you.

The question here is does the Mayor of Osaka have the legal right to ask city employees to answer the question "do you have a tattoo" and can he terminate that employee if the answer yes or decline to answer. If he does, he's the boss and if you don't like your boss go work somewhere else. When the employees start telling the boss how to run his company then it is a union run company and it will go downhill with all the problems associated with union management in company business..

@Elbuda Awww, I have to ride against you this time. Freedom. Free minds, Choice, Love man. That's all human rights. Job or no job. You can't cross that line. You can't fire a good hard-working employee cause of what's on his skin.

Wrong man, totally wrong.

Your argument is off too. You've had good posts in the past and I agree with you on some things but you're perception of the situation is off.

You claim that people are using tattoos to scare people. That's all in your head bro. They did it for them and it had nothing to do with YOU. You give yourself too much credit.

People have to respect ALL. That's the whole thing with people you call "minorities". You've already labelled them as "minor" "small" in your mind. That's mistake number one.

A free mind, a creative mind, is nothing to fear. Yet for some reason the tattoos scare you.

Now comes the hard part. If JT will allow me to "Tell like it is". For some of you, NOT ALL, your arguments on this topic are a bit hypocritical in my opinion.

You've always wanted to shag some hot chick with that sexy tattoo on her back or leg. Yet still you'd like to fire her. What is it really? The tattoo turns you on or it just makes you want to fire her?

I'll be straight up with you as I've always have been...I'm at the beach and I see that tattoo on her body. She's a bit freaky. Kinda turns me on. I love it. I'm also her employer, should I fire her?

It works both ways you know. Chicks like guys with tattoos as well.

To each their own I say. Only a boring putz politician like Hashimoto would try to make all people the same.

This whole thing is a learning experience for us all. The government, recently, has descended into a fascist state that wants to control every aspect of the people's lives. It's deteriorating, not improving. They criticize North Korea but they aren't far behind. You better sing Kimigayo or else. You must not get ink on your body. There's a whole lot more but I can't get into that cause it would be deemed off topic.

There's one organization that thinks exactly the same way. That's the MILITARY!! In such contract, you OFFICIALLY become property of the government. Seems like they want that for civilians as well. Or is your government changing ;-) ??

No matter what tatoo shapes, tatoo is something that brings bad images to the people.

Since when...? Maybe in old Japan. But are you seriously saying that dolphin and butterfly tattoos "bring bad images to people"? And if you conceal the tattoos, then what's the problem? You can't erase tattoos like you can change your clothes.

I don' think that workers w/tatoo in public sectors are acceptable. No matter what tatoo shapes, tatoo is something that brings bad images to the people. It's nothing to do with protecting human right. Like in privates companies, there're definitely guidelines explaining a dress code that employees should follow.

nigelboyMay. 26, 2012 - 11:16AM JSTThomas,

Why do you think Hashimoto is taking action on this issue??

It's the tax paying Osaka citizens that are saying it's offensive!!! Hello!!??

This is a right to work issue guaranteed on the Japanese Constitution, not a tax issue. You need to think this issue indepndently.There is a principal of law "what's been given should not be taken away" applicable to this case here.

Thomas,

Why do you think Hashimoto is taking action on this issue??

It's the tax paying Osaka citizens that are saying it's offensive!!! Hello!!??

@nigelboy:

And before you take the "unconstitutional" angle (which you can on any dispute), why don't you tell your boss to "take it up the place where sun don't shine".

That's not the same thing, you're saying that people with tattoos are already being offensive, when they are NOT. You're using "Hashimoto logic" or just circular reasoning.

Why people even want to defend Hashimoto's arbitrary decision is beyond me.

Hashimoto is losing his mind. I personally cannot stand tattoos but I am certainly not against people getting them. I think the only way that tattoos should affect ones employment is if it is not appropriate for their job. I know the word "appropriate" can be mean different things to different people, but common sense should be harnessed in this regard. Surely, if a sanitation worker has a big tattoo of a dragon going up his neck it shouldn't be any big deal to the city government. However, you wouldn't want a public relations official with any sort of body art showing while on the job.

Again, I hate tattoos myself, but that's just me. If a guy wants to have a tattoo on his forearm and it doesn't show while at work, it's no ones business but his own. I can't stand it when government tries to mirco-manage peoples lives.

The only way Japan can progress is to get nutters like Hashimoto and Ishihara out of office and start promoting anti-racism in schools. This society has stagnated over it's childish fears and prejudices long enough. It's time for Japan to wake up and meet the world!!

You're right. That's why the employer (city) has the right to terminate employment of these people who violate rules.

niegelboy, no they cannot.

The governmnt cannot take these jobs away from workers just because they have tatoos on their body. Please read the article 27. The 14th Amendment of US constitution provides equal protection of law (Bill of Rights) applicable to the city, county, state and Federal governments.

The government has no business ( no right) telling people of Japan how to live their life. Freedom is guaranteed, hopefully, for you. If they want to wear tatoos, it is their business, if they want to pierce their nose, it their business, if they want to wear crazy outfits, again it is their business. If they are eliminating themselves from job market, it is their business.The choice is up to YOU, not by the government. The other side of coin of freedom is a personal responsibility you are willing to take..

"If they are eliminating themselves from the job market, it is their business".

You're right. That's why the employer (city) has the right to terminate employment of these people who violate rules.

And before you take the "unconstitutional" angle (which you can on any dispute), why don't you tell your boss to "take it up the place where sun don't shine". I mean, Freedom of Speech is guaranteed by all, right? I'm quite positive that you can use that argument to avoid termination. And I'm quite positive that if indeed you are terminated, you have a strong case to win for you have the constituion as an ally.

nigelboyMay. 24, 2012 - 10:51PM JST

nigelboy, You are missing an essence of laws that is missing in this case. It is very objective as stated in the Constitution of Japan.

The government has no business ( no right) telling people of Japan how to live their life. Freedom is guaranteed, hopefully, for you. If they want to wear tatoos, it is their business, if they want to pierce their nose, it their business, if they want to wear crazy outfits, again it is their business. If they are eliminating themselves from job market, it is their business.The choice is up to YOU, not by the government. The other side of coin of freedom is a personal responsibility you are willing to take..

Public servant=Seving the public. If the public has reservations about person with tattooes serving them, they have the right to voice their displeasure since they are the ones paying their salaries through resident tax. This concern by the public has been going on for years. It's only now that Hashimoto is doing something about it.

And to those who claim that job performance has little to do with their appearance, pleeze.

When you're employed in a service sector whether it be private or public, there are policies within the company in regards to the "appearance". This is a standard everywhere. Some are different than others in terms of how strict they are but when you interact with a customer, there are at some point "lines" are drawn. If you intend on working for a large well established Japanese company (MUFG, Mitui Co., etc.) you might as well be prepared to get a foot in the rear end if you have a tattoo on your neck, a blue color hair, and a nose ring.

tmarieMay. 24, 2012 - 07:51PM JST

What will they do next physical inspections???

I don't doubt he'll be asking for medical reports from the yearly check ups....

tramie, yep, I agree. There is no law protecting Japanese citizens from misuses of medical records for discrimination purpose. There is one here in US (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules). I would not be too surprised if Hashimoto pulls that nonsense sooner or later. We will see..... sigh....

What will they do next physical inspections???

I don't doubt he'll be asking for medical reports from the yearly check ups....

I can understand a rule about visible tattoos, but non-visible ones too? Its going too far. I would just lie and say I didn't have any. What will they do next physical inspections???

I agree that his survey is'nt good. It's illigal. But I think tabloid should'nt report about his relatives. If his father killed person, he doesn't have impress his opinion? Is it the reason why the survey is illigal? It's unfair.

Perhaps the point you are missing is the type of people in Japan who get tatoos. Wonder why so many people overseas try to get their mistakes lasered away. What is good about tatoos ? Ever seen anything as ugly as David Beckhams arms? He is lucky he has money otherwise he probably wouldn't be able to get a proper job even in the UK.

YOu seem to be a little out of touch with youth culture in Japan. Go to any uni campus, go to any major places where youth hang out and I promise you'll see a few tats of "good" kids with no illegal ties.

Well, I think its sad that people are in fear for feeding their families because some close minded people are bigots. Ink in your skin is no different than dye in your hair. Should the old men and women with crazy blue and purple steaks in their hair be interrogated as well?

I'm a civil servant in Japan, I work in a Prefectural Kencho. I have a 3/4 sleeve tattoo of Japanese art; wind, water, clouds and a bonsai tree. It doesn't effect my work ability and it surely doesn't scare anyone who knows me. But, the racist little old ladies that are afraid of anyone not Japanese have a hard time looking me in the eye.

I love Japan, but it is very sad that so many Japanese people have such a close minded view on anything or anyone different. With time hopefully this will change. Because change and diversity is good. Bigotry is not... Its that simple.

Japan has it's own rules in society just as the west has their own rules. Why does everyone think that Japan has to follow the tradition of other countries?

Because they make no sense and they go against universal human/workers' rights... Japan is not an isolated country, it's a part of the international community.

I thought he was refreshing at first, but this man is sick. His dead relative gangsters must be turning in their graves.

VicMOsaka

No, you are forcing Your opinion on to others to make an employer not having a choice as to whom he wants to employ for any reasons of his own.

Have you heard of discrimination there Vic???? If the tatt is not visible what does it have to do with the employer and the fact this guy needs people to tell him they have one then it must not be visible. If l have one on my leg and wear pants as my work uniform then how is it any of my employers business. And to say its his right not to employ me because of something that is not visible. What next not employ people who wear glasses, people who have different color hair (oops that already happens).... Very slippery slope isnt it.

Get all the tattoos you want, I don't care. It is my choice not to employ anyone with tattoos.

Yes and in most modern societies that would be called discrimination so l suggest you stay here because those ideas will land you in hot water in other countries....

Me, regretting not getting tattoos- you must be joking. I wouldn't waste my money on them.

Huh! Hang on you said "Mine are - which is why I got them where I did" So seems you did waste your money on them

By the way, as an individual, please tell me what is good about tattoos. I really want to know.

It is personal choice Vic, some people like them and they have meaning to them. Some dont, some have irrational hangups about them. You obviously fall into the latter class so why bother explaining, l got mine and like them for my own reasons and do not regret it one bit. You are obviously different and that is your right. But l dont try and force people to get them by forcing my opinion on them unlike what your doing.

By the way, It was never indicated that tattoos necessarily affect one's job performance. Hashimoto has other reasons.

So if it doesnt affect job performance then what business is it of his. I understand Japanese employers believe they own a person who works for them but come on seriously if it doesnt impact your work then maybe this nuff nuff could focus on more important things.

Japan has it's own rules in society just as the west has their own rules.

Yes it does very ancient outdated and pathetic rules that will hold it back.....

Excellent post, indeed Stranger. Thank you.

You're welcome. With Article 27, however, I was referring to Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Japan is a signatory country, which reads:

Article 27.

* (1)*Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community*, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Onsen are very much a part of Japan's cultural life, but anyone with a tattoo is denied participation in this cultural life based on nothing more than the majority's aesthetic displeasure.

Cletus,

No, you are forcing Your opinion on to others to make an employer not having a choice as to whom he wants to employ for any reasons of his own. Get all the tattoos you want, I don't care. It is my choice not to employ anyone with tattoos. Me, regretting not getting tattoos- you must be joking. I wouldn't waste my money on them. By the way, as an individual, please tell me what is good about tattoos. I really want to know.

By the way, It was never indicated that tattoos necessarily affect one's job performance. Hashimoto has other reasons. He has said that these people should go and work in the private sector. Good luck with that ! They would probably find getting a job in the private sector even harder. Japan has it's own rules in society just as the west has their own rules. Why does everyone think that Japan has to follow the tradition of other countries?

Article 11. The people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights. These fundamental human rights guaranteed to the people by this Constitution shall be conferred upon the people of this and future generations as eternaand inviolate rights.

Article 13. All of the people shall be respected as individuals. Their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does not interfere with the public welfare, be the supreme consideration in legislation and in other governmental affairs.

Article 27. All people shall have the right and the obligation to work. Standards for wages, hours, rest and other working conditions shall be fixed by law. Children shall not be exploited.

Stranger_in_a_Strange_LandMay. 24, 2012 - 11:59AM JST

Ubikwit,

many places have passed laws mandating that businesses are legally obliged to ban people with tattoos

Stranger_in_a Strange_Land, absolutely you are right on!

The real problem is that there are no anti-discrimination laws in Japan

Yep,aqain, you ae right on! There are no anti-discrimination laws similar to the US 14th Amendment.

Excellent post, indeed Stranger. Thank you.

VicMOsaka

Perhaps the point you are missing is the type of people in Japan who get tatoos. Wonder why so many people overseas try to get their mistakes lasered away. What is good about tatoos ?

Again Vic you are forcing your opinion onto others. What business is it of yours if people get or have tattoos? Do all people who get them then want them removed? As for your question whats good about them, that is up to the individual. And for people like you to impose your will and dislike on them is just not right. You say you have them, so you sound like a bitter person who regrets their decision to get them, so get em removed dont force your opinions on those of us that like them.

Ever seen anything as ugly as David Beckhams arms? He is lucky he has money otherwise he probably wouldn't be able to get a proper job even in the UK.

Yeah, funny l know lots of people with sleeve tatts that manage to get jobs and some get high paying high ranking jobs. Its called a long sleeve shirt. Afterall how does some ink on your skin affect your job performance.

tmarie, You seem to be missing that point that he wants to get rid of anyone with a tattoo, visible or not. I have no problems with a rule stating the tats have to be hidden at work. Mine are - which is why I got them where I did. However, firing those with ones covered? Pathetic.

Perhaps the point you are missing is the type of people in Japan who get tatoos. Wonder why so many people overseas try to get their mistakes lasered away. What is good about tatoos ? Ever seen anything as ugly as David Beckhams arms? He is lucky he has money otherwise he probably wouldn't be able to get a proper job even in the UK.

Ubikwit,

many places have passed laws mandating that businesses are legally obliged to ban people with tattoos

No, you are wrong. Tattoos are not illegal in Japan and it is the decision of the individual business (onsen, pool, sports club, etc...)whether or not to ban tattoos.

It is not only not illegal, but discrimination (anti-tattoo, or otherwise) is against the Japanese Constitution (articles 11 & 13 at least) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 27).

The real problem is that there are no anti-discrimination laws in Japan of any kind and almost no one cares because the vast majority of people are striving to be as average as possible.

Hashimoto has announced plans to prevent the promotion and advancement of any city employee who declined to respond to a survey asking them if they have tattoos.

This guy is beginning to show his true color under his skin. He is a fascist. He has no business asking what his workers do to their bodies. It is THEIR bdies and THEIR choices. If this kind of nonsense is allowed now, I am afraid he would play a bully game against gay and lesbian employees. These public employees should be evaluated ONLY based on job performance. I believe he has gone too far for me.

Job requirements should include "NO visible tattoo's and allow attrition to take care of those employees who already have tattoo's. Personally, I like my "servants" to look business-like.

You seem to be missing that point that he wants to get rid of anyone with a tattoo, visible or not. I have no problems with a rule stating the tats have to be hidden at work. Mine are - which is why I got them where I did. However, firing those with ones covered? Pathetic.

El, the culture of tats has changed here. Plenty of young people have "cute" tats. Much like the culture of tats changed in the 80/90s in other places - before it was convicts and military that had them. Very different thinking. For a guy who seems to think you're opened minded compared to the locals, you certainly aren't proving to be.

Shame Hashimoto isn't going after power hungry bullies....

This is sure to push any LGBT municipal employees way back in the closet. I'm sure none of them will be surprised if at some point he decides to go after that population too, claiming that public servants have a responsibility to set an example by getting married and having babies...

Funny people crying here that their tattoos are cute and cuddly, sure if you are a gaijin, non Japanese, English teacher etc..no body cares about that tattoo you got back in the 1970s while drunk in some bar during the Viet Nam war, but if YOU ARE JAPANESE, here in Japan, guess what, unless you are some young dude in Shibuya working at a record shop, really cool clothes etc..most Japanese still see other Japanese with tattoos as a BIG YELLOW CARD or even a BIG RED CARD, simple is that. Back home in say the USA etc..if you see some scum bag with more tattoos and less teeth than he should have at say, age 20?? Most likely some drug addict, homeless, gang member etc..also big YELLOW/RED cards, not exactly the type of folk you would invite over for tea, right?? Not the kind of guy that you would say to yourself, hmmm...need to go shopping so let me ask my neighbor with tattoos all over his face, scalp, eyelids to baby sit my 2 year old daughter, right??

I'm starting to think that the people who support him are total and complete utter morons. Wait, I already knew that...

Japan really has an odd relationship with their "logic"...

♪ I am governor Hashimoto, I'm only doing my shigoto, I hope someday to be PM. Noda power will soon go away, I will be fuhrer one day....I will command all of you, Sing kimi gayo in school ♪

Osaka uber alles, Osaka u-ber alles, ♪

and Toru is also trying to get people jailed as well...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120524a1.html

What an idiot. Tattoos have nothing to do with a person's work ethic at all. Pick a fight that is of value. There are so many other problems that are of much more importance. Grow a brain Hashimoto. How did such a moron get elected?????

Who needs surveys? He should have everyone work naked! It's gonna be a long, hot summer with no AC because of rolling blackouts anyway.

What's amazing is that there are over 100 (if not significantly more) public servants in Osaka that have tattooes. Osaka quality!!

It's about time Hashimoto started to whip this lazy corrupt public sector in Osaka.

I know several women in their 50s and 60s who have tattooed eyebrows and masara on their eyelids since it saves them time in putting on make up in the morning and prevents smudging, etc. Nobody would know their face is tattooed unless you looked really close.

turtles, moons and dolphins

What, no Pink Hearts, Orange Stars, Green Clovers or Blue Diamonds???

Magically Tattooed!!!

This is 100& correct and Hashimoto is doing his job! Much ado about nothing.

Job requirements should include "NO visible tattoo's and allow attrition to take care of those employees who already have tattoo's. Personally, I like my "servants" to look business-like.

I have a whole-body human tattoo. Without it, I would be recognized as a Sleestak.

This idiot is an elected official. You get what you ask for.

Umm, I'm one of those who don't like to see tattoos on people. To me any ink larger than a silver dollar is garish. That said, if I don't SEE the tattoo (i.e. it's under clothing or otherwise out of sight) who the heck cares if they are inked? This isn't a public health issue and a tattoo does not affect the person's ability to perform their job unless the tattoo is inked across their face. The mayor is a looney.

Seriously, this over-the-top scorched earth approach Hashimoto is taking makes me wonder if our illustrious Osaka mayor isn't hiding a little bit of ink himself.

"Hashimoto reportedly became infuriated earlier this year after learning that a worker at a children's home threatened kids by showing them his tattoos."

Yes, the worker was stupid to do so and should be reprimanded, but to say all public workers who have tattoos are unsuitable for public office (and we're basically talking one or two here and there, rather than the beautiful full-body ones), is amazingly naive and time-wasting. If the worker had killed someone, would all public servants have to go to jail too? Hashimoto really is turning out to be an idiot of surprising proportions. Wasn't there a mayor or governor in Nagano or Gunma who banned public servants from having beards? These 'leading' public servants should focus on doing just that, serving the public.

After all, we pay their salaries, don't we?

Goals0,

Thanks for the background on this story. However, if indeed this worker said "I'll kill you" to a child, regardless of that child's age, while showing his tattoo, then I would think . . . and maybe I'm just way out in left field on this one . . . but I would think that the mayor would be more concerned with city employees who threaten to kill children than with whether or not they have tattoos. It's almost as if he's saying the tattoo itself was responsible for changes in behavior. Which would, by any estimation, be frackin' stupid beyond words.

It's sheer, juvenile idiocy that Hashimoto, if he is indeed reacting to the incident you pointed out, would for all intents and purposes equate having a tattoo with being a utter jerk in the workplace. Particularly when there are likely hundreds of civil servants with tattoos who are not jerks in the least, and at least one civil servant sans tattoos at the head of Osaka politics we all now know is the asshat supreme.

This story just angers me to no end. Hashimoto is so very clearly a nutcase with delusions of grandeur. Yet the electorate allows him to stay in office, which is even worse, IMO, since they seem utterly unconcerned about Hashimoto's brazen assault on the privacy rights of Osaka city workers.

But here's the kicker: It isn't apathy on the part of the people of Osaka. I honestly think, in this particular economic climate, that a sustantial number of regular folks in Osaka are secretly cheering Hashimoto on, because in their warped rationale, becoming a civil servant means an automatic forfeiture of one's civil rights, i.e., "Their salary is paid for with my taxes. Rights? What rights?"

But then again, as in the case of Gov. Ishihara getting re-elected in landslide decisions time and time again, people get the government they deserve, particularly in light of the thunderous silence from the people of Osaka in the face of this insanity.

The dude's already dismissing the teachers who won't stand up for the national anthem... and Japan is following him. This country is nuts.

What about the women with their eyebrows tattooed? Is he going to fire them too?

It wasn't just humor, but I don't know the age of the child. In September of last year he was suspended for two months for sexually harrassing a co-worker, but is now back at work (this story was reported in February.) He told the woman to go out with him and threatened her that if she broke up with him he'd be liable to do anything.

And here lies the real problem. If all this is true, this guy should have been fired, or at least charged on sexual harassment. But he wasn't. Instead, he was suspended (probably with pay) and didn't learn a lesson. The whole "job for life, unable to fire crappy workers or problem workers" is the issue here, not this guy's tattoos. Is it any wonder companies are hiring dispatch workers instead of FT workers when they can't fire the crappy ones? Change the labour laws, make people responsible for themselves. Get rid of the deadweight (the old guys that no way in heck want this law to change as they know they'd be out on their butts", make jobs and promotions competitive and watch the education system and economy get better. As it is now, too many deadweights working and getting paid while talent gets wasted.

Hashimoto is totally out of line. It is none of his business what people have painted on their bodies. What kind of personal details is he going to demand to know next? AFAIK there are no statutes or ordinances prohibiting covered tattoos. He can threaten workers, but firing them would be unlawful dismissal and he will be sued in court.

The Jieitai need to be alert; the biggest threat to Japan are people such as Hashimoto.

more narrow-minded thinking. Idiots in power, basically.

tatoos should be banned for civil servants i agree

I read that this guy had a Burakumin background. Not that I have anything against people from that background, but this guy certainly seems to be hiding a lot of things. A new Ishihara in the making. Good luck, Japan.

Some body should please EDUCATE that GUY Harassment, sorry Hashimoto. What FREEDOM & PRIVACY is all about. For crying out loud this is twenty first century Japan and not twenty first China or Arabs.

Hashimoto is a calculating populist politician, so rest assured he is only making this move (and other moves) because he assumes it will make him even more popular with the general populace of Osaka because he knows many Osakans dont like (and are probably jealous of) public workers having relatively good salaries and pensions. Osaka has been mismanaged for many, many years and has accumulated huge debts in the process. These debts have translated into much resented high city and prefectural taxes which are combined with a relatively high unemployment rate. Hashimoto has tried to make all public workers one of the main scapegoats for all of Osakas woes. As history shows, sometimes creating a hated scapegoat that has to dealt with can lead to very strong political power for its creators.

OMG, what an idiot. But as everywhere, there is on bully with tatoos and a lot of other people also get the blame too. But I heard they need strong men to clean up in the tohoku plant.

It wasn't just humor, but I don't know the age of the child. In September of last year he was suspended for two months for sexually harrassing a co-worker, but is now back at work (this story was reported in February.) He told the woman to go out with him and threatened her that if she broke up with him he'd be liable to do anything. 「切れると何をするか分からないぞ」

What about all those girls that have the eywbrow tats????? Hmm.... could be a sudden loss of OLs in Osaka!

GoalsO - how old was the child? Did it recognize that this could have been a yaks sign?? Or was this just the, for me not easy to understand, japanese kind of humour ??

In the original case that started this problem a worker at a child welfare facility showed his tattoo to a child and shouted 'Aho, boke, korosu zo.' 'You idiot! I'll kill you.'

This evening's news said that the same worker is up for a bonus of level A (the highest of four levels). He probably is (kind of retired) yakuza.

This Hashimoto seems like an undemocratic, authoritarian, reactionary lunatic. I expect he will be wildly popular with the Japanese and will make a perfect match as a future PM!

This loon is deranged! Who gives a fat rat's if a garbo has tattoos?

That reminds me, it's garbage night tonight!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dru_Hashimoto

While I'm all for getting the yakuza out of public office (is this a problem?).... According to this article he is actually a lawyer!? He must be the most stupid lawyer in town? He must know this is not legal and an invasion of privacy?

And I thought Ishihara was the leading guy in the luncatic departement, but the guy from Osaka beats him.

you seem to be neglecting the fact that members of organized crime use tattooing as a kind neo-feudalistic symbolism.

it is a means of intimidating the public in a modern society

If members of organised crime working as public servants and intimidating people is a problem, then deal with that problem. Refuse to hire members of organised crime as public servants. Don't discriminate against people with body graffiti.

The logic of yakuza=tattoos therefore tattoos are bad so people with tattoos cannot be public servants is on a par with George Bush's eyes are close together therefore people whose eyes are close together cannot be president or people in the mafia have Italian accents therefore people who eat spaghetti are all hoodlums. Doesn't hold water.

Guilt by association... is really getting tiring.

Hashimoto likes to think of himself as a logical man, but he is really bad at logic it seems...

Elbuda, links and pictures please. I highly doubt these people were trying to scare anyone. Besides, children don't know these things are "scary" unless and adult tells them so. Chance are, annoying parents made them an issue, not the kids.

you seem to be neglecting the fact that members of organized crime use tattooing as a kind neo-feudalistic symbolism.

So why don't they just go after the criminals instead of people who happen to have tattoos.

ubikwit

you seem to be neglecting the fact that members of organized crime use tattooing as a kind neo-feudalistic symbolism.

Indeed they do, however you seem to be neglecting the fact that many people who have no connection to crime gangs get tattoos because they like them. So let me put it this way you see tattoos and yakuza as being connected that is like me saying l see Japanese people and yakuza as one and the same. Personally l have two very large tattoos that cover a good part of my body, am l a criminal? Am l a member of the yakuza? No l just like them and they have meaning to me. Do they stop me doing my job? No. Do l deserve therefore to be discriminated against by some person who cannot differentiate between body art and crime.

it is a means of intimidating the public in a modern society, and that is why many places have passed laws mandating that businesses are legally obliged to ban people with tattoos, should they be visible.

So because on section of society used to use tattoos as a sign of crime affiliation. Then everyone who has one is lumped in the same basket. Imagine if a foreign company banned Japanese people from joining the company purely because they where Japanese and the yakuza is also Japanese. Rather than discriminate against people who may not have ties to crime, actually get hard proof and go after those that actually are criminals. Or is that to difficult.

Some tattoos are beautiful, some are hideous. Some people have big noses, some are just right. It's hard to stop discrimination once you let it grow roots.

If they were hired with the rules in place then maybe, but there has to be some type of grandfathered rule that this policy won't hurt honest people that choose to get one.

cleo

Personally I don't like tattoos. But if someone wants to put indelible graffiti on their skin, it's no business of mine or of the mayor of Osaka or anyone else.

you seem to be neglecting the fact that members of organized crime use tattooing as a kind neo-feudalistic symbolism.

it is a means of intimidating the public in a modern society, and that is why many places have passed laws mandating that businesses are legally obliged to ban people with tattoos, should they be visible.

that is also why the banned yakuza organizations from hanging a coat-of-arms sign in front of their office about 10-20 years ago.

It's official: Hashimoto has completely lost it.

Is there such a thing as a recall election for a mayor in Japan/ Any time a prime minister blinks wrong, Japan seems able and ready to swap them at within months. Is there any such motivation or mechanism for lunatics like Hashimoto?

If you are Japanese, work for the Osaka government, your ass is public, you walk around showing tattoos from some local yakuza etc..to scare people, gets what, your ass will be fired, as it would be in any other major company. Some bus drivers and garbage collectors in Osaka think it is cool to use their yakuza tattoos to scare others, these incidents have documented by the Osaka police etc..so if these retards with tattoos think it is ok to live off the taxes of the good people of Osaka and then go around using their yakuza tattoos, not cute dolphins etc..to scare folk that get in their way, only natural to fire these fools and do it ASAP! This is JAPAN, this aint NYC where the scummy police there show off their colorful tattoos all over their arms, neck etc..

So I don't fit the bill for yakuza.

Neither do I but I've had problems at a few sport's club (cough, cough Konami I'm looking at you) and SpaWorld in Osaka. I had a friend in Nagoya who had to wear a shirt to a waterpark to keep them covered - which was actually drawing more attention than anything. Go to a waterpark in the summer and see how many young guys are covered up. They are because they've been forced to by the staff. I agree it is silly and the notion that tats = yaks is old and outdated but until the youngins in this country open their mouths and fight the discrimination, nothing will change.

KariHaruka

I've got a fair few tattoos but thankfully I've not had any issues so far. Might be because I'm gaijin and pretty much always accompanied by a young daughter and pregnant partner. So I don't fit the bill for yakuza.

Your lucky, l have run the full spectrum here in Japan. I have been asked if l am a criminal (by my doctor when he saw them), l have been stopped from entering an onsen and also a pool, l have been abused and actually had an old lady prod on of my tatts with her finger while screaming at me. But l agree l dont know of too many caucasian yakuza members getting around.

Its time Japan grew up a bit in regards to this type of thing.

If the tattoo isn't affecting the workers performance then Hashimoto has no right to punish them just because they have a tattoo.

Its about time this negative attitude towards tattoos are eradicated in Japan. Before tattoos became associated with crime they were seen as for spiritual and decorative purposes around 10,000 BC. Now tattoos are seen as fashionable among the younger generation. I've got a fair few tattoos but thankfully I've not had any issues so far. Might be because I'm gaijin and pretty much always accompanied by a young daughter and pregnant partner. So I don't fit the bill for yakuza.

Everyone should just respond and say they have no tattoos. It's not like the employer can have everyone strip and verify. If they could, they wouldn't need a survey.

@darknuts

and what at the yearly company onsen trip, the employee will be exposed.

What next he will ban drinking alcohol for a month?

Full body yakuza tats are one thing but small tats like dolphins or turtles..?

What? No, sorry but discrimination is discrimination. Besides, yak tattoos are usually down the back, butt and legs so aren't visible unless naked.

Japan has an ageing population. The number of youngsters is small. Tattoos are fashionable now. Youngsters are into fashion. It's likely therefore that many youngsters will have tattoos. The Osaka labor pool just got smaller.

So, increase immigration? Nope. Fascists aren't going to go along with that.

I wonder if public school direct hire ALTs will be asked. It'll certainly be interesting because an American lady I work with has those tattooed eyebrows.

Outrageous. All to often we hear praise for Hashimoto's ' strength' unlike the nodding dogs in Kasumigaseki and how he can change Japan. Strength doesn't mean intolerance and bullying.

hashimoto can't possibly believe that he can fire all employees who have tattoos. it's like making a new law and then retroactively arresting everyone who broke the law in the past. puh-leeze!

So far, 513 employees have declined to respond to the survey which was given to about 33,000 workers.

So most people DON'T care about their right to privacy. It's just like the fingerprinting issue. "I'm not a criminal so why should I mind if they take my fingerprints?" When I tell my Japanese friends that I don't want to be fingerprinted, they look at me like I'm hiding something.

I wish more people would stand up for what's right, rather than just ticking the "no" box because they don't have a tattoo.

Sky pilot on your own time and money. Speaking off, let’s launch a cross-functional independent audit team and crack the books of all that is, what was, and will be of that particular government office then proceed across the entire nation to the highest levels. Let’s see how squeaking clean the inshu really are….Government +Transparency = ….Not sure…still seeking an example…here in Japan...But it is what the people are shammed into voting for……right?.....No, I guess that would be considered left….right?

He must be right, because we all know that in this day and age, in 2012, only the criminals and gangsters have tattoos. And in this day and age, we all know that someone with an ankle tattoo of a dolphin swimming through a rainbow, which they got back in 1995 after too many drinks at a Scatman John concert, has such bad judgment that they could never possibly function well in their job pushing paper at the local kuyakusho.

I would think Hashimoto has bigger issues to worry about.

Everyone should just respond and say they have no tattoos. It's not like the employer can have everyone strip and verify. If they could, they wouldn't need a survey.

A very good point darknuts. Some people don't like to lie, but when you have an employer this dirty, you should not feel guilty lying. There are those who leave you no choice but to lie to escape injustice, and those people deserve all the lies they get.

Tattoos?? Yakuza??

For all those persons with concealed tatoos, I would just report "none". How the heck will Hashimoto find out. Anyway, this is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard.

So it IS blatantly illegal and against human rights, so WHY do people support him??

Because most people don't have tattoos. Tyranny of the majority.

This narrow-minded dinosaur will get what's coming to him at the next election.

Yes, like Ishihara get's what is coming to him, right? Until the young folks get off their butts and care, these idiots will be reelected. I am sure old folks around Osaka are cheering him on - those whipper snappers with their disgusting tattoos should be fired!

Everyone should just respond and say they have no tattoos. It's not like the employer can have everyone strip and verify. If they could, they wouldn't need a survey.

The movement against tattoos in Japan is outdated. It's not just a yakuza thing anymore. For some, it's just body art, plain n simple. Isn't this just opening up the government for lawsuits? Career advancement denied because you got a little ink back in college... Silly.

The human rights issues aside, what happens if you have a person who is a former gangster or close to gangsters in your employ and you threaten their job security?

They turn to crime for money and security!

Hashimoto should be given a nice, cozy padded room all to himself. He's either nuts or so completely stupid there is no real difference.

And I bet Hashimoto has a tattoo somewhere. The irony.

Wow, I kind of liked him at first when he positioned himself as a very active and modern leader and won the elections. But what he's doing is beyond ridiculous.

It's clearly illegal, Japan or not Japan, such things are illegal everywhere. But the Japanese won't take action against it unless they get enough people to stand against this guy, becausr the Japanese can't do anything on their own.

This is hilarious. Only in this country could this happen. Try this stunt anywhere else and the only person getting fired would be the nut job Mayor. Who cares if a person has tattoo's? Really as long as they do their job who really cares. Oh sorry l forgot this is Japan where there is massive stigma about having them....

This, 100% agree with this. Enough said. Oh and yeah, mods tend to remove a lot of comments that bash Japan, so that you know.

And now he's saying that tattooed people are gangsters.

He's never said that. He has said (in this case, as well as in the matter of requiring school principals to enforce teacher compliance with standing and singing the national anthem) that municipal employees/public servants, by virtue of their roles and responsibilities, should be held to a higher standard of conduct, one of which--in his opinion--is refraining from tattoos in a country where they still carry considerable negative connotations.

I don't agree with him, or his actions in this matter, and I'm surprised this has yet to generate any legal blow-back.

This is gov't sanctioned bullying.

He will be re-elected. He is the man!!! How many times have I shook my head in disgust with the likes of him and others who resemble him. Wait! new App idea is coming to mind..... can't tell you what it is now. To be continued....

The tatooed people should go to fukuoka and take the local govt's staff out on the turps then all rock up to the mayors office in osaka drunk and get tattooed in front of this goose masqurading as the osaka mayor.

Greapper1

Good for him. Tattoos are trashy.

In some countries and cultures tattooes are a status symbol and go way back before people even had pens to get the ink, i dare you to tell the maori chief or his warriors to his face that he looks trashy.

This narrow-minded dinosaur will get what's coming to him at the next election. People like him do more to hurt Japan than help it.

He only gets away with because most government employees (robots/sheep etc, etc) are far too spineless to stand up and say no. For the small group that did well done.

Hashimoto as a person is more annoying than summer ass sweat.

I see no problems, it's actually quite easy:

1 - tatoo "fascist basterd" on Hashimoto's forehead,

2 - fire Hashimoto,

3 - sue Hashimoto for privacy violations or something. Make him do comunity service at a tattoo shop.

I can sort of understand and accept that employers don't want to hire people with visible tattoos for face-to-face customer support (for the opposite stand, go by the cellphone stand at Schiphol airport). I can sort of understand this issue is still kinda taboo for the Japanese. Last time i checked, however, this was the 21st century.

... they will be pressed again to give the information before disciplinary steps are taken.

Oooooh so that's what it is, an excuse to tell female workers to strip? Weird...

I intend to get a tattoo some day. Don't tell me to strip if you're male, even if you're my boss.

Could Hashimoto be any more self loathing?! Dad was a yak, sister us a teacher... Surely he's got bigger problems in Osaka than this.

Personally I don't like tattoos. But if someone wants to put indelible graffiti on their skin, it's no business of mine or of the mayor of Osaka or anyone else.

I can understand the idea that visible tattoos are not a good idea for people who have to deal with the general public/customers in a land where there's a deep-seated stigma attached to them - but if you have to ask, doesn't that mean you don't need to know?

Greapper1

Good for him. Tattoos are trashy.

In your opinion they may be, so dont get one yourself but what gives you any right to say what people do to there own bodies. There may be things about you l find trashy but you dont hear me commenting on that. Maybe you should do the same

Being myself tattooed i would like to lead a march on this mayors office of all the tattooed people who object to this clowns stance, then we can see what this dickhead has to say about tattoooed people in the mayors office.

Good for him. Tattoos are trashy.

We need to have possession of this information.

Because...?

FWIW, I've been in a few sento with a tattoo, as have local customers. Nobody cared less. Even at a place that had a sign (which I did not notice until I was inside for about 1 hour)

I would not be matching his hysteria with my own Japan-is-the-worst-country-in-the-world- hysteria though.

I have 16 tatoos on my body and none are visable unless I go shirtless..... I worked for a man who once said I had to wear long slive jumpers in the summer just incase they pocked out, I told him to get on his bike! Now I run my own buisness and I wear a T-Shirt when it is hot and no one (Japanese customers) say anything.

This Mayor has issues with his past and needs to deal with them!

So Japan takes another step closer to totalitarian control. Now your body is not your own... Soon there'll be a breeding license needed. Why don't these employees just say "no" if they're forced to prove it, then it becomes a situation of invasion of privacy! I have tattoos, about 30% of my body, they're covered up for work but I will never deny that I have them because they are me,my memories. Others may not like tattoos but it's my body not yours so keep your opinions of how stupid you think I am or how ugly you think I am to yourself, you don't have to look.

“We need to have possession of this information. Anyone who doesn’t respond to the survey should be reported to HR and passed over for future promotion. This all goes without saying,”

Yeah, THIS is the most important piece of information you need. Even though there are a hell of a lot of people in the public sector who are only there because they passed the right test and therefore don't have to bother working hard because they're already set for life.

Get rid of the people who do no real work, and promote those who are good workers. If they have tattoos or not.

Hashimoto is an idiot.

Seriously? This loon is deranged! Who gives a fat rat's if a garbo has tattoos? I can understand requesting to cover tattoos for office work and teaching, but this nonsense about collecting tattoo data from all employees and threatening those who don't supply the information is just plane ridiculous! If this nut wants to run a fascist state he should across the Japan Sea and have a chat with his mate in North Korea. Could you imagine the reaction in Australia, the US or the UK to this kind of political thuggery? He would be laughed out of parliament before the ink dried.

This has to be illegal and unconstitutional even in Japan, right? Clearly the people of Osaka are enraged with this mayor because he is opening up the city to huge legal liability, which will be on their dime.

VicMOsaka

I wouldn't want to employ anyone with tatoos either especially if they can be seen. Tatoos are an ugly defacing of the human body.

And as an employer what does it have to do with you what people do to their own body. Unless the person is in a customer service position with exposed tatts then what business is it of yours. And for the record l like them l have 2 of which one is partly exposed and it doesnt stop me doing my job. Its just shallow minded people who push their beliefs onto people that cause problems.

" I ask you to volunteer information which could get you fired."

Which is more idiotic, the question or questioner, is open to debate.

I wouldn't want to employ anyone with tatoos either especially if they can be seen. Tatoos are an ugly defacing of the human body.

It seems this guy has a problem with his past. Otherwise he would not be so distrustful against his subordinates. I wonder how he could become mayor of such a big city.

has announced plans to prevent the promotion and advancement of any city employee who declined to respond to a survey asking them if they have tattoos.

100% totally illegal, who is this moron?

this is amusing, as the substantial networks affiliated with organized crime in osaka were a significant factor in his winning the election for mayor.

people in government jobs who are are making fashion statements

many places in japan have laws against people with tattoos, barring them from onsen and public bath houses, for example. though there are people with tattoos that aren't affiliated with organized crime, they are few and far between in japan, as tattoos have carried the stigma of being associated with criminals and organized crime for quite some time, aside from other japanese cultural sensibilities that are not in accord with practices that permanently mark and mar the body, such as tattooing.

not a few people here have been pointing to totalitarian aspects of hashimoto's policies for some time now, and it is also interesting to see similar references in relation to something like this, as opposed to the broader issues relating to the teachers and the national anthem, etc.

if he is trying to weed out organized crime moles from public service, well that is probably the only policy initiative of his that i would be in agreement with. on the other hand, this could just be a political grandstanding tactic to make it seem like he's being an equal handed fascist across the board, not just targeting the teachers union.

P.S: Perhaps Hashimoto considers tattoos as defacing public property.

Japan has the idea of employment totally off key. They believe you give YOUR life and soul to your company. You are never off the clock with them. Now I respect the company's expectation of it's workers to be outstanding citizens outside work but trying to dictate what they can say, do, or wear is O.B.

Personally, I hate tattoos nothing pleasant about them at all, but having one or not having one surely is a personal choice. If a person in front of me has a tattoo, I just say nothing,but if they ask me I will tell them what I think.

I think Hashimoto is going way too far with his. As long as the tattoos aren`t visible, why is there a problem?

And nobody sued him yet? If this is not discrimination I don't know what is.

"plans to prevent the promotion and advancement of any city employee who declined to respond to a survey" This is power harassment

“If they insist on having tattoos, they had better leave the city office and go and work in the private sector" This is unfair discharge.

Any new grad half wit lawyer can make a meal out of this clown. What the hell are they waiting for?

What is with The Honorable Mayor of Osaka? How right-winged can you go? I could understand that he wouldn't want the yakusa -but with people in government jobs who are are making fashion statements - please Mayor your OCD tendencies are peaking out - don't you have any other more important projects to harp about?

Cletus, many Japanese are not impressed either - though sadly I have no doubt those collecting their pensions agree with this loon.

This is hilarious. Only in this country could this happen. Try this stunt anywhere else and the only person getting fired would be the nut job Mayor. Who cares if a person has tattoo's? Really as long as they do their job who really cares. Oh sorry l forgot this is Japan where there is massive stigma about having them....

What a horrible small minded bigot. To put people out of work at a time like this over something as meaningless as whether or not they are tattooed.

When an employer shows they are prepared to focus on nonsensical criteria to assess their workers it can destroy moral of all employees, as it shows that their hard efforts, dedication and skill in their field is of secondary importance to those criteria.

This guy is a lunatic, he needs to be put in his place quick smart, to be asking if employees are tattooed and then say they will be passed over for promotion etc is way beyond what any employer should be able to do let alone the mayor of the damn town, this high and mighty nutjob should be nowhere near any position of power.

The tattooed workers should press the issue and take it to court the guy will get what he deserves.

Stupid auto correct - fascist!! Though with the way he's going I don't doubt that he has issues with race as well.

Around 800 teachers and other education professionals have so far refused to respond to Hashimoto’s survey, in the belief that it infringes on their right to privacy. A Kansai-based lawyers’ group has also reportedly asked the city to cease the investigation, which it claims violates workers’ human rights, Fuji TV reported.

So it IS blatantly illegal and against human rights, so WHY do people support him?? This completely baffles me... It seems to me that the people in Japan want their rights taken away by dictators...

Because everyone who has a tattoo is a gangster. Riiiight.

“We need to have possession of this information. Anyone who doesn’t respond to the survey should be reported to HR and passed over for future promotion. This all goes without saying"

This guy is proving more and more to be a fascist. 'Asking' (and I'm sure it would be more like pressuring until they quit) someone to leave their job because they have a tattoo is not right, especially in a society that should be PROGRESSING, not turning back the clock. In fact, his little campaign sounds pretty illegal to me, not to mention infringing on people's rights in general.

During Hashimoto’s mayoral campaign, weekly tabloids in Japan claimed that his father and uncle, now deceased, were both gangsters, although it was not reported whether they were tattooed. Nikkan Gendai also reported that a cousin of Hashimoto is in prison for manslaughter. Hashimoto has publicly commented on the stories and has not denied them.

These are facts, no? Why is the mainstream Japanese media afraid to report them?

Hashimoto has bitten back at the media that accused him of being the son of a gangster, and his response was that just because he's the son of a gangster does not mean that is he is a gangster himself or that he's responsible for his father.

And now he's saying that tattooed people are gangsters. This guy makes no sense.

Hashimoto is acting like an unhinged lunatic. He'll be insisting all employees wear brown shirts and jackboots next.