The little-known Japanese law tourists need to know about
From cherry blossoms to fresh sashimi, it’s easy to see why Japan is such a popular tourist destination. But a landmark ruling in Osaka this week has far-reaching consequences for people looking to visit the Land of the Rising Sun.
The ruling relates to tattoos. Thousands of travellers are tattooed in Japan everyday, which has led to a burgeoning industry, but what often gets lost in translation is the fact that this process is illegal according to Japanese law.
While rarely-enforced, this Japanese law dictates that tattoos may only be administered by doctors, who let’s face it, are rarely found operating in seedy tattoo parlours.
Last week a tattooist in Osaka was found guilty of breaking this law and was slapped with a 300,000 yen (A$3,400) fine, although he is expected to mount a legal challenge.
While travellers getting tattoos are unlikely to be convicted themselves, it could have far-reaching implications for the tattooists who are on-edge with the new ruling.
While becoming more accepted today, tattoos continue to have a stigma in Japan due to their association with the Yakuza, who were famous for their elaborate body art. As a result, many public spaces in Japan such as gyms, pools and saunas have measures in place to prohibit people from displaying their tattoos.
With tourists expected to converge in droves upon Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games, the nation’s strict tattoo laws are expected to come under heavy scrutiny.
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