Interesting fact of the day, in certain places in Japan Tattoos are illegal, or more accurately, it is illegal to go to those places if you have any tattoos. These include some public beaches, waterparks, and hot springs.

To me it is a huge personal violation to outlaw where a person can go based solely on what they put on their own body.

#Japan #Tattoo #Tattoos

@freemo you've got to have a little cultural context. Tattoos don't mean the same thing to them that they do to Americans. To Americans everything is conspicuous consumption thinly veiled in the auspices of individualistic expression. To Japanese and other pacific islanders these things have real meaning. To Japanese specifically, they are an indicator of identity within a caste system, one of belonging to an organized crime caste within their social system.

@mistermonster

I am aware of the symbology.. to equate it to the USA it would be like making gang colors illegal in public spaces... That too would raise huge issues for me.

@freemo @mistermonster can't remember which area in the usa has it, but it's illegal to tie your shoelaces in certain ways because gangs were using that to identify each other. quick google search doesn't enlighten me any either

@All_bonesJones /

I suspect if such a law was enacted it would never stand up in court.

@mistermonster