Tattoo means trouble in Japan
At least sometimes. Which is something I knew, but today I experienced it myself for the first time. Those who met me in real life know it, others might not: I have tattoos on the upper arms - a tribal one on the right upper arm and a dragon one on the left upper arm, both are quite large. Until now it's never caused any problems for me, I only got compliments from random people on the streets xD (let's not forget that cute old lady who ran after me on the street just to tell me that my tattoos are beautiful ^__^").
However, today I went to a sport club to try it out and see if I'd like it and get membership. I wore a short-sleeved T-shirt and both my tattoos were exposed. At first a staff girl asked me to change in a long-sleeved shirt to cover them. At this point I found it both amusing and insulting. But after I was done with a work-out and said that I wanted a membership there, they said no. Because sure, I can wear a long-sleeved shirt to cover tattoos, but people will still see them in a shower and a changing room. So no. A staff girl said that it's not just me, they get foreign customers with tattoos from time to time and they always refuse them. This is seriously insulting :O I guess now I'll just have to find a gym that doesn't have a stupid rule like that...>_>
However, today I went to a sport club to try it out and see if I'd like it and get membership. I wore a short-sleeved T-shirt and both my tattoos were exposed. At first a staff girl asked me to change in a long-sleeved shirt to cover them. At this point I found it both amusing and insulting. But after I was done with a work-out and said that I wanted a membership there, they said no. Because sure, I can wear a long-sleeved shirt to cover tattoos, but people will still see them in a shower and a changing room. So no. A staff girl said that it's not just me, they get foreign customers with tattoos from time to time and they always refuse them. This is seriously insulting :O I guess now I'll just have to find a gym that doesn't have a stupid rule like that...>_>