Tattoo, OK? October 1, 19:53
Train, stadium crowded with foreigners who have tattoos on their bodies.
The “Rugby World Cup”, where the representatives of Japan are active, is exciting, and overseas players and fans with tattoos visit Japan.
After a hot game, the bath is essential for sweating. However, at the Japanese hot springs and public baths, it seems that “tattoo customers are NG”.
I asked what kind of response I was doing. (Reporters from the Network Press Asako Wada, Shinsuke Tsuji)
Hot springs for “tattoo players”
“Onahama Ocean Hotel & Golf Club” in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, which accepted the bathing of foreigners with tattoos after the Rugby World Cup. Until now, people who have tattoos have refused to take a bath.
However, in September, Samoa representatives were staying at a pre-camp and were forced to respond. The Polynesian region, including Samoa, is known as the birthplace of tattoo culture because many men have a custom of putting in tattoos when they are determined or ready.
The hotel decided that bathing is not a problem because it is clear that the player's tattoo is “culture”.
According to the hotel, although one opinion against bathing by people with tattoos was received over the phone when they accepted, the general user heard a general understanding.
After Samoa's stay was over, it is said that people who have tattoos have refused to bathe as before, but the hotel side is looking at tattoos in anticipation that foreign tourists will increase at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year. I want to think about whether or not to allow bathing even if there is.
Introducing “tattoo-friendly” hot spring facilities
Oita Prefecture, where five games are planned, including the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup. Because it is known as a hot spring resort both inside and outside Japan, many foreigners are expected to visit the game and sightseeing.
Therefore, Oita Prefecture opened an English website in March that introduces hot spring facilities that can be entered even if there is a tattoo.
As a “tattoo-friendly” facility, it introduces the names and places of 95 hot spring facilities in the prefecture with photos, and videos explaining bathing manners for foreigners who have never experienced hot springs in Japan Is also posted.
Oita Prefecture says, “Some people who visit from overseas think that if you have a tattoo, you will not be able to enter all the Japanese hot springs and public baths.” I want to wipe out such a false image. "
For a limited time
In Kumamoto Prefecture, in conjunction with the opening of international sports competitions such as rugby and handball, a campaign that allows you to use public baths even if you have a tattoo is available for a limited time from September 26th to December 16th.
A public bath in Kumamoto city where people with tattoos usually cannot bathe. Here, “Omotenashi Sticker” was created to encourage foreign tourists to become familiar with the public bath culture.
If you put a sticker with a message in Japanese and English saying “I'm happy to put you in the public bath” on your body, you can take a bath without hiding your tattoo.
According to the prefecture, foreigners who used public baths said, “I knew that tattoos are not desirable in Japanese public baths, so I think it is a good initiative.”
On the other hand, on SNS, “Is it possible to take a bath without a seal because it is limited to a specific public bath?”, “Put only foreigners,” it is also discriminatory. Some say, “The color of the sticker is also a skin color that is common in Japanese, and it stands out on the contrary.
Regarding this, Kumamoto Prefecture said, “Before we started the campaign, we thought that various opinions would come out. Many Japanese think that“ tattoos are not desirable ”for foreign tourists using public baths. I would like to interact with each other while respecting them. "
Examples of country responses
The National Tourism Agency conducts a questionnaire survey of hotels and inns nationwide in 2015 for tattoos and bathing.
Of the approximately 600 facilities that responded, 56% have refused to use the service, and about 60% of the reasons cited “describing and hygiene” as “voluntarily refused”. It was a content that showed a strong sense of resistance to tattoos.
Based on this result, the Japan Tourism Agency compiled specific responses in 2016 and notified the relevant organizations in writing.
Tattoos have various reasons such as ▼ religion, culture, fashion, etc. ▼ The following correspondences are introduced after assuming that they do not cause sanitary problems.
“Onsen is a key content for Japanese tourism and attracts foreign tourists. We want each facility to respond flexibly so that friction does not occur as a reference to the case studies.” Section Makoto Kobayashi Assistant Manager)
The difficult industry
Industry perceptions vary.
Mr. Masato Kiyosawa, managing director of “National Ryokan Hotel Life Sanitation Association”, which is made up of approximately 15,000 hotels and inns in Japan, said, “It is honest that we are struggling to deal with it. Although the movement to eliminate tattoos has been established since the enforcement of the law, the Japan Tourism Agency has said that bathing for those who have tattoos will not be a hindrance. I ca n’t. ”
On the other hand, there was also such an opinion.
Toshihiro Morohoshi, representative director of the Hot Bath Promotion Association, which is made up of super public baths throughout the country, pointed out, “The elimination of people with tattoos is at a time when we have to think about it.”
According to Morohoshi, super public baths began to be made in various places around the late 1980s, and anti-social forces with tattoos came to the store. It seems to have decreased.
However, Mr. Morohoshi said, “Those who have tattooed, the recognition of equal anti-social forces is still strong, and the store side accepts customers with tattoos and tattoos and is afraid that regular customers will leave.” He told me the current situation where the response was not widespread.
According to Mr. Morohoshi, in the Kanto region, out of approximately 400 super public baths and other facilities, only five places accept bathing for people with tattoos and tattoos.
“In order to make many foreign tourists widely aware of Japanese culture, I think it's time to be honest and think about how to get rid of it.”
what will you do? 2020
This opinion is also on the net.
It has been less than a year until the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. As one of the reasons for hosting the Rugby World Cup in Japan, it is likely that the people concerned will continue to explore how to make a deal while respecting each other's culture and ideas. What do you think?