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Miguel Villagran / Getty Images, file
Lady Gaga shows off her tattoo of a Rilke poem in Braunschweig, Germany, on November 7, 2009.
TOKYO -- Even Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Lady Gaga would not be welcome to work for the Japanese city of Osaka because of their tattoos, its mayor said amid a backlash over his stance against body art.
Mayor Toru Hashimoto this week said that public employees "should go to the private sector" if they want to keep their tattoos.
City authorities carried out a survey of their staff to ask whether they had any, whether they were normally concealed by clothing or not. More than 100 sanitation, public transport and other workers admitted they had tattoos.
However, Sayuri Ohashi, a lawyer who represents Osaka workers, defended the right of people to decorate their bodies.
"Whether one has a tattoo or not has nothing to do with their competence or skills," Ohashi said.
"There are different types of tattoos, there are those that are indeed linked to organized crime and others who have etchings on their bodies as mementos, such as for their lost child," she added.
'Breach of labor law'
She added that getting employees to reveal information about their body was "a complete infringement of their rights."
"And if they try to pressure them into quitting by transferring them to another work, that's a breach of the labor law," Ohashi said.
Bryan Bedder / Getty Images
Movie stars, rockers and reality wannabes are among those who've made a permanent mark.
The controversy started earlier this year when a city employee at a childcare facility was accused of intimidating a child by revealing his tattoo.
Tattoos still carry a strong cultural association with the Japanese underworld and the yakuza crime gangs.
City workers in Japan to be fired for having tattoos?
Jae C. Hong / AP
Trying to erase his past and start a new life, Bryon Widner underwent 25 painful surgeries to remove hate tattoos on his face, neck and hands.
Japan's aversion to tattoos can be found at swimming pools and public bath houses where there are often signs banning those with them.
Hashimoto insisted being a public employee meant making some sacrifices.
"Before I became governor, I had my hair dyed brown," he said. "I don't mean to be self-righteous … However, when you become governor or mayor you have to change it back to black. You're a public servant."
Thousands gather at a temple in Thailand to honor a tattoo master and have their body art recharged by monks. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
Asked by a reporter about Hollywood stars with tattoos, the mayor responded, "If Johnny Depp or Lady Gaga asked to become Osaka city employees, I would just say 'no'.”
At the moment the city is not considering firing workers with tattoos, but Hiroshi Kotawa, from the city's personnel section, said they would be asked to cover them. "And if they still refuse, then we will consider transferring them to other jobs which will not require interaction with the public."
A previous version of this article referred to Sayuri Ohashi, a female lawyer, as "he" due to an editing error.
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Leave a Comment:
We have found the answer, the secret under the rock. If people are different from us, separate from them. If we are an elected person with power, we can fire them. If we are an elected person, we can do anything we want, because we are an elected person. Elected people are the great society. Boy, I am glad we finally solved that one.
It is time to put certain limits , specially when you work with the public, you can do your free speech in places of your body where you can expose them out of work , and about tattoos of Johny Deep and Lady Gaga , that parson should have a better taste. LOL
Whyyyy? Some body art is absolutely gorgeous as well as quite tastefully done. Regardless of how one feels about ink, I'm not sure you can equate it with anything more outrageous than a person's fashion sense. Like wearing purple plaid with orange and green stripes! Youch! Now that's offensive. Or perhaps, that chick with the sick looking eye makeup with dark, dark shadow running from lid to brow. Or Maybe it's the pink, blue, green, red, and/or gold strips of dyed hair. And, maybe you just don't like stilletto heels on women or polo shirts on men. Does that mean they should not be allowed to wear them in your proximity? Of course not. It's a matter of one's personal taste and that should not be legislated.
(Like ... maybe, chicken?)
And, Terry, This is Japan we are talking about, Osaka, Japan. Their entire society is somewhat different than the democratic society with which you are most likely familiar. They still have an emperor, although the emperor is, by all accounts, far more forward thinking and open-minded than this Osaka mayor. But that's to be found everywhere. Small people with small minds in positions of authority. There's an old saying, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". So this little man with his little mind (as well as many on this forum, apparently) has a built-in bias against tattoos. He, by the way, has a far better reason to dislike them. In Japan, even today, the tats, as mentioned in the article, often represent one's connection to the yakuza or another gang. This mayor was undoubtedly raised in a society where children were taught to fear those tattoos. Hence, his personal hatred for the ink. And, his Japan, that is not all that out of reach to think many of the tattoos continue to show such gang associations. HOWEVER, I think the mayor might need to tone down his rhetoric and exercise a bit of discrimination as far as a general ban on all tattoos.
I'm sure Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp are crying a bowl of tears over this.
Or not.
Thewordsmith - "tasteful tattoo" is an oxymoron.
You are ignorant, wryview.
Both Gaga and Depp could buy and sell this Mayor AND his pissant town 100 times over. Thanks for playing, Kotawa.
I don't like tattoos and I feel repulsed by most people with tattoos especially if they have too many and they are visible, but I don't care if you have them, I just would stay away from you.
pedestrian-
how retarded are you? Osaka is the third largest city in Japan, at one time it was the capitol.
pissant town- more than twice the people in san fran- 18 million people. It's the commercial center for Japan.
so sure two "celebrities" can buy it...
ps romilio- I am heavily tattooed and I would stand as close to you as I could...
Invisibleswordsman - How is it ignorant to speak the truth?
wryview, first you have to speak the truth. Just because you say something, does not make it the truth. If it was that simple, then it is true that you like to drink urine. See how simple it is to speak the truth about someone.
Agree with wryview and the Japanese mayor.
Gaga's a media sensationalistic modern day Madonna wannabe.
Depp's an overrated b-movie actor, as his latest movie endeavor prooves.
I personally would never get a tattoo but I do not hold it against someone else if they have one. Now I may hold it against them if I find the content of the tattoo objectionable (like a swastika), but that is a different subject. I figure that I have enough permanent marks on my body (scars) without willingly adding more. I have seen some tattoos that are tastefully done and others that I think are ugly, but like any art everyone has their own tastes. I know many people who have gotten tattoos and regretted it later, particularly ones who have had a significant other's name tattooed only to split with them later. Thankfully these days you can have tattoos removed, although I understand it is a painful process. If someone wants to get a tattoo that is their choice, I just do not plan on joining them.
As for this Osaka mayor, people need to understand the different cultural sensitivities towards tattoos in Japan than in the US and other countries. In Japan, tattooing tends to be associated with the yakuza who have tattoo murals that indicate which yakuza clan they belong to. This strong association between tattoos and these violent criminal organizations has a lot to do with this mayor's attitude, although I do think he needs to draw a distinction between simple tattoos that are more artistic or personal in nature and those of these criminal organizations.
The way I see it, there's a difference between having a small decorative tattoo and a massive number of gang-related tattoos. Tattoos themselves do not make people dangerous, it's gang affiliation that does.
Those always make me laugh; I have seen so many people stuck with those. Some people have no concept of forever. I have 5 tattoos and regret none of them, but each was also carefully considered. And I do have a name on one of mine, but since it is my grandfather's I don't see it ever being a problem. I always tell people to never have anyone's name permanently inked on your body unless they are a blood relative.
Tattoo restrictions on public employees are nothing new; the US has them too. Even the military has them now. Refusing someone a job because of strategically placed tattoos is going way overboard, but visible ones are different. It definitely highlights the cultural differences; can you see the reaction if employers or potential employers here made it a habit to ask about unseen tats?
He is probably afraid his guards couldn't tell them from the Yakusa.
pzphiml - I speak the truth. Too bad that you can't recognize it.
There is a difference between the truth and an opinion. Your opinion may be your truth, but not everyone else's.
wryview - I've seen some pretty terrible tattoos, but I've also seen rather lovely ones, and rather quiet ones. I remember one woman in particular, she tattoo'd a simple line around her finger for each of the three children she gave birth to - including one that had died in infancy.
wryview - get over yourself.
I'm sure they are crushed. It's been their dream to work for a Japanese mayor.
I am sure Johnny Depp and Lady Gaga will not hire that Japan Mayor, either.
Dang, how mixed up is this guy?
He wouldnt get much work out of depp and gaga anyway. Just a couple of high maintenance divas.
The island of Great Britain takes its name from tattooing, with Britons translating as 'people of the designs' and the Picts, who originally inhabited the northern part of Britain, which literally means 'the painted people'. British people remain the most tattooed in Europe.
The yakuza show off their tattoos , like American gangs flash their guns, for intimidation. So if you've never lived in Japan, you don't understand how afraid they are of the yakuza. They control everything.
Yeah, but in addition to being heavily tattooed, the yakuza "businessmen" are also missing finger(s). I'm in Japan quite often and am heavily tattooed, and nobody thinks I'm a criminal. Although I did ask, and I was told if I did accidentally cut of a finger or two, people would probably not even look at me, let alone talk to me...
Let's not forget that the Yakuza are much more heavily tattooed than most people, much more so than even Angelina Jolie. Lady Gaga's little tattoo is nothing in comparison.
They dont think your are criminal cuz your a gaigin so they're more disgusted with you than afraid. Havent you noticed the "no foreigners" signs or do you just stay in the cities?
If this had happened in America, most of the posts would whine,"America sucks!" Now are all of you going to say that Japan sucks?
If this happened in America, I'd be: "That's the mayor I want to work for."
A guy who truly sacrifices for the people!
No, Japan doesn't suck.....just the Mayor sucks!
No, the mayor doesn't suck......just the tattooed people.
I don't work people with tattoos on the face or neck myself. You want a job, don't get a tatto unless it on your rear in and I can't see it. It's my rules.....
If you own the business you are certainly entitled to 'your rules'. I just think it's rather fortunate that all of the truly brilliant people in America who have tattoos don't have to worry about working for YOU! :oD
(And, I'm assuming you have someone else to do the letter-writing for your business. Illiteracy is generally considered a bad image to present to clients and bad for business overall.)
thewordsmith sorry, but most truly brilliant people don't have tattoos.
romilio - let's clear something up quickly. I have an Honorable Discharge from the US Navy, a BS in Technology Management, a MBA and I am currently enrolled in a doctoral program working on my Ph D. and I have tattoos, some of them clearly visible with short sleeved shirts on.
What do tattoos have to do with brilliant? define brilliant please? maybe you should look past appearence and find substance. Most brilliant people are capable of doing just that....
hardcoffee-
on your face- that's definitely reasonable.
people who get face tattoos should not be surprised how much of life is off limits to you...
this coming from someone who's spent over a hundred hours under the needle...
Kent - I hope that you are not trying to imply that you are brilliant merely because you are working toward a doctorate. I've been around plenty of doctoral candidates. I have one myself in chemistry from a university that it in the top 10 in the country for my discipline. I can assure you that the mere fact that someone is working toward a Ph.D. does not make that person brilliant in any way, shape or form.
doyourhomework,America! - you have already posted at least three statements claiming that you are heavily tattooed. NO ONE CARES!!! Get over yourself.
scales67, but yet you don't answer the question that you quoted. Perhaps because it would show how biased you are? Tattoos do not have anything to do with being brilliant. And there are more tattoos out there than people realize. Many people in powerful positions have them, but because of the stupidity of others who care only about looks, they are forced to keep them a secret.
Yes, we are worried about our inability to get a job working with some fool who can't so much as type a sentence in English. Keep on making those rules, ignoramus.
I'm going to admit right off, this is a little bit of a grapevine story. My dad told me, after he was told by the man who actually witnessed it.
It was for a tech department, where everything had to be running perfectly, and all the software being put out had to also run perfectly and be brilliantly executed. When the folks in charge walked in, the room was full of people with tattoos, piercings, facial hair, and strange hair styles. One of the men doing the checking smiled and nodded, and said that everything looked good.
The tech people were far from business norm, and in many cases not even business acceptable - but they were, in fact, the best around at what they did.
Bryon Widner back when he had Tattoos on his face, think about a 80 year old person and he's at the door to fix your Tv, I don't think so.. Looks very unprofessional
*********STOP IT! *********** This type of oppressive persecution is already being done in Central America. People with tattoos there (ANY KIND OF TATTOOS, not just gang tattoos) cannot get jobs, apartments, sometimes even medical treatment. And to make it even more complicated. The tattoo removal equipment was removed from all of the medical clinics; so people can't remove their tattoos, unless they register with the government. *********LEAVE THAT CRAP IN THE THIRD WORLD!********* We don't need this type of ignorance in the U.S. And for the record, I hate tattoos and don't have even one on my body. But I support the right of others to enjoy them.
We already discriminate in the corporate environment for age, race, weight, and Facebook photos. Now tattoos? The type of sequential thinking, order taking employees hired todey are the reason America's economy is in the toilet. Simply, it's hard to compete in the global environment with brown noses.
airesflora, You have no right to tell me what opinion I or anyone else should have about another person based on that person's choices or behavior. People who hire can deny employment based on their opinions of the applicant. If I don't like your choices or behavior, I don't have to like you, or hire you. This mayor is not preventing anyone from getting or enjoying a tattoo. He's just not giving them a job. If you do things that are known to be socially unacceptable, don't expect society to accept you, and don't whine when you are rejected by society.
airesflora - You do realize the article was about Japan? And Japan is not part of the U.S., right?
With that said, in general I'm not fond of tattoos, although I have seen a number of very nice ones. I think the important thing to consider here is the cultural differences that provide a context for this Mayor's hatred for tattoos. We may not agree with his position, and I do not know the employment laws in Japan, so his stance may or may not be legal, but there is a definite cultural stigma associated with tattoos in Japan that just isn't as strong in many other places.
Body art is ancient.
In the US there was an inmate/biker/veteran stigma regarding tats for quite a while too. The culture grew up though and that's pretty much behind us.
I personally don't have any body art, but that's just me. I'm amazed at how intricate and beautiful much of the inking I see is these days.
As far as I'm concerned this mayor is off the wall and being a bully, forcing his opinions on everybody else.
airesflora - the reason America's economy is "in the toilet" is because of staggering debt and the fact that most of our manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas. It has nothing to do with tattoos. (BTW, I have no idea what the first part of your sentence even means. The dumbing down of America is another reason that we are in big trouble.)
People in a place of a power, be it a employer or a Mayor, have to stop thinking like a individual. When they make up their mind "I don't like this -kind- of person." and then proceed to act based on that prejudice, they ARE forcing their belief's on others.
And when people in power do this collectively, the results are entire swaths of people become essentially second class citizens.
A great example is pre civil rights America. Women, minorities, foreigners, catholics, LGBT, you name it; if it wasn't a straight male WASP he or she suffered for it.
Hence the civil rights movement.
This is true as a individual, but as a person in charge of others you have to look past stereotypes and judge people individually. That is, you, "average joe schmo" stays at home and "Impartial, pragmatic manager" is who shows up for work
This is such an important attitude to foster in those seeking to be business and community leaders. The "You can't tell ME what to do! WAA" attitude HAS to go.
This is because, people who seek these positions are almost invariably cut from the same stock. They go to the same schools, talk to the same people, read the same publications. Individually, leaders think "its not my problem". Yeah, nor is it for the next guy and the next guy and the next guy ad infinitum. At some point the buck needs to stop here. Leaders need to take COLLECTIVE responsibility for their actions. And quit thinking like a individual, because at least as prejudices are concerned, you're already a part of a group-think hivemind and don't even know it.
hard coffee- "think about a 80 year old person and he's at the door to fix your Tv, I don't think so.. Looks very unprofessional"
why would an 80 year old person be fixing your tv? that would look very unprofessional...
Getting tattoos is a way to associate yourself with a particular subculture whether you realized it or not. And by definition, its also a rejection of other subcultures and is interpreted as such. Choices have consequences, whether you like it or not.
Good for that mayor. I totally agree. My daughter has a friend with multiple visible tattoos & piercings - and can't figure out why she can't get a job. DUH.
I guess it depends on what type of job she wants. On the other hand, I've met several people in business situations who have tattoos and piercings, but who are very pleasant and professional to work with. Demeanor and personality can go a long way to overcome an unorthodox appearance.
Not in my business. When clients pay as much for your time as they do mine, they expect and should get a professional appearance as well as a high skill level. Like it or not, you ARE judged by how you look in the real world and you will always be judged by how you look.
The good news is that companies with oppressive and discriminatory practices can and may well become the subject of many boycotts in the future. It has proven effective with Bank of America, when they tried to implement ridiculous fees. And with the over-the-top practices of asking for Facebook passwords, many feel companies have pushed limits. Today, there are sites currently in creation listing a company's reputation for employees to consider as they interview. They will feature discrimination histories, lawsuits filed, poor reviews and some of the unfair or unethical practices used against employees. They will be used for employees to seek reputable companies and for consumers to determine WHO they want to do business with.
flbikerchick, "unorthodox appearance". Excellent word choice. The first thing it brought to my mind was possibly some person with some physical deformity. the same prejudice works against them as for a person with tattooes, however, it's easier to fight that discrimination than for the person with body ink.
I once met a tattoo artist in Beaumont, Texas area who, although he had tats on his neck and one on his head, he would not tattoo any customer above the collar or below the wrist. His rationale? So many of those getting inked are young people (18 - 25) they get inked on the neck or hand with some outrageously ugly or stupid tat and, when they are 35 and embarrassed by it they either doom themselves to lower paying jobs or they have to invest in removal surgery. I pointed out that they will ultimately go somewhere else for the ink but he said, "Yeh. But I don't have to be a part of it." Nice guy, wise and intelligent.
Gouranga, you may be judged by how you look but it's still illegal in the United States to hire based on appearance over ability. Of course, all other things being equal, the person without the tat has a leg up on the hiring but, still, being judged on appearance is an ignorant way of going through life. You miss out on SO much.
Consider this scenario. Your business is computer technology and design. The most brilliant and innovative and designer in the world wants to come work for you but he has the Microsoft icon tattooed on his right hand and a Mac Apple tattooed on his left. Now, this guy is absolutely the most talented computer genius ever. Do you hire him? Do you say no and your competitor hires him and puts you out of business? The lady or the tiger?
How is it oppressive or discriminatory to expect a professional appearance in a professional setting?
Totally. Uniforms of any ilk say little about the competency of the worker to do his or her job. The first thing I think about a person sporting a tattoo is that they are the type of person who believes in commitment.
goreganja-
when I put on a suit, you can't see any of my tattoos.
and trust me- my appearance has helped me many times, as well.
This discussion reeks of self-righteousness. People need to realize not every tattoo was a mistake, and not all of us are going to ever regret having gotten them. We knew what we were getting into when we got them, and we get along just fine.
culheath - When I see a person with a tattoo, I don't see someone who believes in commitment, I see someone who doesn't look past today.
airesflora - sweetie, you must be about 19 years old. There is a huge difference between not hiring someone covered in tattoos and piercings, which you seem to equate with "oppressive and discriminatory practices", and Bank of America wanting to charge ridiculous fees. That's not even comparing apples and oranges, but more like comparing apples and Toyotas. Sorry, but appearances matter in many business situations, and the employer has a right to demand that certain dress and appearance codes be met. When I enter a restaurant in which the hostess or waitress is covered with tattoos and piercings, I leave and go somewhere else, not because I don't agree with her right to express herself, but because I can't stand to look at piercing through the nose, lips or eyebrows.
yeah, scales
an important and high-paying job like a hostess or waitress? yeah, I'd definitely go out of my way to change my appearance to keep such a great job!
And that is a big part of the problem. Kids have little concept of 'the future', even when it's just 5 years away.
Exactly. Many of us actually consider what we are doing and the fact that it will be there for our grandchildren to see.
That would be your projection, not theirs.
No one, including you, can predict for their future selves. Some people live their lives hedging their bets worried about the future, some people live otherwise.
But my projection would keep me from hiring them. My projection would keep me from patronizing a business with workers who look like that - hence, the reason that employers frown on the practice. It effects their bottom line.
A deformity isnt a choice; a tattoo is.
Getting a tattoo is a personal decision, with decisions come responsibility.
Business owners, including the mayor have a right to hire or not hire based on appearance. That also is a personal decision.
I have no issue with work related dress codes per se, but there can be a fine line between "right" and "prejudice". Fashions change, and the business world is a much a part of society as anything and should reflect this. Over the years, companies, for the sake of stodgy "image and professionalism", had the right to not hire you if you were female, black, or Asian. They could refuse to hire you if you were a man with neatly trimmed facial hair, or a woman who wore pants suits or refused to wear makeup.
When I was in high school in the 60's, the dean of a state college came to pay a visit to one of our teachers. The principal and vice principal met him at the door and wouldn't let him in because, (gasp!) he had a neatly trimmed beard. His suit and tie didn't help him. They called him a "communist".
In our work place, shorts are banned, but women may wear dressy Bermuda shorts, coulottes, and Capri pants in warm weather. Men must wear trousers. I once mentioned the inequality of this to a manager, and he mumbled something about the enjoyment of seeing women's legs. Really professional. Right.
Well said, crises4ever. With decisions also come consquences incuding the opinions of others who see the results of those decisions. One makes one's own decisions and lives with them. If you decide to be different by getting a tattoo, don't be surprised if someone treats you differently. You have a right to get a tattoo and I have the right to develop an opinion of you.
Crisis4ever, you are about half right, here. Yes, getting a tattoo is a personal decision and the person must be willing to accept whatever consequences are connected with that, or any other, decision. However, the mayor of Osaka is NOT a business owner. He is a government official. That puts his decisions in a slightly different light. He has a responsibility to the people ... ALL of the people ... in his city. His personal biases should not be allowed to dictate his decisions. One would hope such a decree, in the United States, would be immediately shot down for its blatant bigotry and discrimination.
I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want body ink all over their face, neck, or hands anymore than I can understand why guys from 14 to 40 wear shorts with long, baggy legs and three sizes too large so they are constantly being required to pull their pants up to keep from tripping over them as they fall down. And I can fully understand why any government facility might want to discourage the hiring of workers with visible tattoos. The problem I see with this mayor is that he is asking, up front, if a person has tattoos. This would never be allowed in the United States (Though I have seen some companies which ask job applicants the illegal question of a person's birthdate and/or age!) To ask if a person has tattoos is, indeed, an invasion of privacy. If the tattoos are visible, an interviewer might make note of the fact and advise an applicant that the policy is to not hire persons with such visible ink for positions wherein they will be working with the public, but only for positions such as garbage dumper or street cleaner where the person is not required to interact with the public. But, if a person's ink is not visible, why should there be a problem?
Oh, yeh. Bigoted mayor!
thewordsmith - perhaps you missed the obvious...the major in question is major of a city in JAPAN. Japan is not part of the USA. It is a separate, sovereign country that has its own set of laws. Just because something might be illegal in the USA does not mean that it is illegal in other countries. They can do exactly as they please in Japan without regard as to whether it is acceptable to us.
Hardcoffeeat6am - Being that you can barely spell correctly, and basically show your lack of skill using the English language, I would imagine that not many people care to work under you since the average person would make you look stupid, ignorant, and biased.
Spelling Nazi
A person who insists on rectifying the spelling errors of
anyone by rephrasing the said line accordingly. To remain faithful to their
cause, they must invariably make no spelling mistakes whatsoever of their own,
otherwise he/she is engaging in hypocrisy, in turn, looking like an oblivious
dumbass. Further, they justify their cause by asserting that the victims'
spelling is "impossible" to read.
What the prick fails to realize is how needless his/her
cause really is, seeing as he/she is perfectly capable of construing the
sentence containing the spelling errors sufficiently to be able to rephrase it
suitably. Ultimately, he/she incurs embarrassment and looks like a total
douchebag, as a result
As a retired manager, I would not hire somebody would not hire somebody with a tatoo. If they don't take pride in their body then they will most likely not take pride in their work. I have often wondered why as pretty as women are why they would disfigure their bodies.
How about a fat person? Would you hire them, as I mean, you have that whole "pride in their body" thing? Or a person who smokes? You do realize that those take way more of a toll on the body than a tattoo does, don't you? But yet you consider a tattoo a disfigurement without realizing that to some it's art or even a remembrance of something, not to mention, how do you know if the person even has a tattoo if it's on their back or something?
Stay retired bro.
As an active manager, and a member of the Millenial generation, I would not hire somebody with a limited grasp of basic writing skills who can't spell the word "tattoo" correctly. Your conclusion that an individual who chooses to get a tattoo is 'disfiguring' their body, without evaluation of the artwork, it's location, or the working personality, skills, and experience of your job candidate, is subjectively judgmental and arguably against most reputable corporations' hiring protocols.
I have a tattoo and have also completed 11 marathons, but according to you I take no pride in my body. However, those who have no tattoos but eat McDonald's for dinner every night or smoke a pack a day do, right?
There are tattoos, and then there are TATTOOS! Most tattoos are fairly innocuous, but some people, such as this Widner guy pictured in the article, have allowed their stupidity to run amok. The actress pictured with the poetic saying tattooed on her back seems proud to display that somewhat silly sentiment.
I've heard tattoo advocates say things such as that a tattoo is a way of "expressing" themselves. I always wonder, just what is it that a tattoo is supposed to "express"?
Also, there's a world of difference between someone who covers his/her body with grand-scale, well-planned, colorful, artistic tattoos and the person, such as Widner, who winds up with all sorts of cheap-looking, inky scrap scrambled here and there, with little rhyme or reason.
Certainly, having a tattoo is a personal decision, but those with visible tattoos have to be prepared for the fact that not everybody finds their tattoos attractive or interesting.
trust me- many of us in the tattoo community feel the exact same way. people who get whatever without thinking about it, people who go to the cheapest shop and get crap, people who don't take care of them once they've gotten them...
there's a reason why a lot of the bigger shops also specialize in tattoo removal...
Yeah, there is nothing quite as attractive as seeing a guy with body hair sticking through tattoos of nudes and skulls. (sarcasm)
Ask them; everyone has a different answer.
I have a purple pawprint that shows I am an animal rescuer, and it is instantly recognizable to other rescuers, along with most vets and their employees.
I have a ladybug with my grandfather's name above it. I was very close to my grandfather and he always called me 'ladybug'.
Does that quaify as expression?
Rene278: The pawprint would seem to be better characterized as identification, rather than expression. The ladybug and name would seem to be a form of expression.
I guessing its not on your forehead. :)
If that was directed at me... No. Pawprint is on the inside of one ankle, ladybug on the inside of the other ankle :).
I actually have 5, but the other three cannot be seen when I'm dressed. Either way, each one was carefully thought out and chosen, knowing I would have them forever.
That is what I was thinking. There is body art and then there are tattoos that make one part of a gang, or just plain over the top that looks so bad, even the artists are offended.
Since I don't know anything about Gaga, or even Depp, I can not comment on theirs. I don't listen to her music, and you can't see the tats in Depp's movies.
On the face of it: If the company has a policy, then if you want to work for that company, cover up, or get a life. You don't have the right to set the company rules or in this case, the mayor's idea of what is acceptable.
It's a different culture, tattoos are usually related to gang/crime activities in the eastern culture. It's just different cultures react differently to different things.
My daughter has two tattoos. They are on her back, and they only show when she wears something very low cut or strapless in the back. Neither are offensive in anyway (they relate to her family and children). They were her own personal decisions and have importance to her life. That being said, I'm not a fan of tattoos, but I know many people who are. Most tattoos are quite artistic and attractive; some are not.
In Japan, "face" is a very important part of their culture. Tattoos can detract from that social factor. As mentioned earlier, the Yakuza has a tattooing particular to their gangs, which is very frightening to many people (and rightly so). I can understand the mayor's wish to avoid being counted among those thugs. On the other hand, I think he oversteps his bounds when he surveys his employees on their skin "conditions." If my daughter were to work for him, he would never know she had a tattoo. However, his survey might delegate her to a lesser position simply because he has a prejudice against body art.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some folks just have different definitions.
My mother is like that, but she doesn't say anything about mine since none of them could be considered offensive. Only 2 show if I am dressed at all, and even then I have to be barefoot or not wearing socks. She wasn't happy about it, but it's never been a problem. The funny thing is my dad never had a problem with me getting them, but he hit the ceiling when my brother got one.
If I want to make a statement or get attention I can buy a T-Shirt with something on it. AND I can change it daily for a new statement. Tattoos get really nasty with age-sort of like T-shirts, but I can throw the t-shirt away.
Racist dog.
Its japan. They're about the least diverse country I can think of. Tattoos there are all about identity, not art. And they really dont tolerate "alternative" identity very well.
I wouldn't hire Lady Gagme or Depp even if they didn't have tatoos, both are just idiots.
I agree with you about Lady Gagme, just a Madonna wannabe. But you are way off about Johnny Depp. Very good actor with an immense amount of talent. He just acts in some very weird movies.
FWIW despite your personal feelings, she is commercially very successful.
I would never hire any celebrity what so ever. They have nothing to offer that is positive.
I despise tattoos, I think they are ugly. Obviously I won't be getting one anytime soon. You want one? Fine, but know that regardless of whether it seems fair or not, you may not get hired, and my first impression of you will be negative. Maybe after you've worked for 30 years you can 'discriminate' against people without tattoos.
damn, I've only been working 28 years, guess I gotta wait a couple more...
kathy, go swimming all you want. a shark will never eat you because you're so BITTER!
I don't like tattoos but I don't think less of people who do. I wouldn't mind seeing the trend die out though, that and greek style yogurt. I just don't get it.
whoa, whoa, whoa! Greek yogurt is the bomb! That's going nowhere. It is far superior to that thin dribble people used to know as "yogurt". Let's just all agree that tattoos are really stupid and move on now...
That's OK, Mayor, because you couldn't possibly make millions of dollars as a performer and entertainer, either. You'll just have to make your money off your position as a biased politician in Japan.
The Mayor of Osaka was a lawyer who was also what the Japanese call a television talento. Which means he made a lot of money being a jack... on tv. While I live in Osaka and know how idiotic his views can be he is at least trying to cut back on some of the Osaka spending problems. That said he's going about it the most idiotic way possible. Lady Gaga, has given a lot of money to Japan. After the tsunami disaster she kind championed the charity causes. Why antagonize someone who is doing a lot for Japan is beyond me. I don't like Hashimoto at all but if the people of Osaka keep re-electing him then someone must. To me, he is an idiot looking to grab a seat in Tokyo while telling Osakan's he wants Osaka to separate from Tokyo. This proclamation is just another way for him to sell his name to Tokyo. Tattooed people can be some of the most original, and creative people around, they also can be absolute idiots. Maybe just maybe when people can start looking at ability instead of cosmetic features will have competitive companies that actually can bring jobs back here in Osaka.
My, My, My...Brave Souls...all of you. I can tell who has been given a real piece of humble pie and who has not. Rarely have I heard of anyone make fun of government work, seeing that it carries with typically up to 30 times what the private sector is making on average (in real life; not the imaginary "entreprenuerial" one) plus benefits that includes great medical, dental, and often legal perks which offer certain immunity from the petty things that send most people to prison for 30 years, and this is not just for the individual, but for the entire family as well.
Personally, I think tattoos are beautiful...but they do have their place. I have none myself.
I think tattoos are disgusting and I'm waiting for it to come out that the ink causes cancer.
Maybe you should hold your breath until it does?
I think you're disgusting. and that crappy little attitude, and the whole wishing death on millions of people...
people need to lighten up.
charle- nice