After Meiji restoration 1868) when Western culture was introduced and the full-body tattoo was seen as uncivilized, tattoo became a taboo in Japan. In Edo period (1603-1898) many men and women with tattoo were depicted in woodblock prints called ukiyoe, whereas criminals were forced to be tattooed so that their criminal record could not be removed for ever. The taboo was intensified when yakuza movies boomed in 1970s and 1980s. Being associated with yakuza, those with tattoo are banned on beach, in public bath and hot-spring.
But tattoo ban has a negative effect on the recruitment of self-defense force, because young people have less resistance against tattoo. Now that the government plans to increase the military budget, the defense ministry will increase the recruitment. The ministry will rethink its tattoo ban soon or later.
In the meantime, many foreign visitors to Japan have tattoo. Tourist industry considers removing the tattoo ban in hot-spring. In this global society we must accept tattoo as common practice. Yet honestly I am not comfortable taking bath together with those with tattoo.