Do tattoo artists need to be doctors? Sounds like a ridiculous question, but a literal reading of Japanese law suggests that just might be the case in this country – as Osaka-based tattoo artist Taiki Masuda found out in August last year. That's when he was sued by local police for practicing his craft without a medical license, a requirement under the law that classifies tattooing as a form of medicative treatment. Several of Masuda's fellow ink artists have faced similar sanctions over the past year or so, leading to suggestions that the police is carrying out a concentrated purge of tattoo parlours – particularly in Kansai.
As most of our readers will know, Japan has a fraught relationship with tattoos: banning inked individuals from onsen and gyms is just the tip of the iceberg. Although understanding of and appreciation for tattoo culture are moving in a positive direction, many people still automatically associate body art with the yakuza. Pandering to those who hold such stereotypes was what drove former Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto to launch a crackdown on tattoos among city employees a couple of years back, and is also the root cause behind this latest crusade.
Masuda, however, is determined to fight back: instead of sucking up the ¥300,000 fine, the tattoo artist is challenging it in court, arguing he's never neglected hygiene or sanitation nor had any trouble with his clients. He's also managed to raise awareness of the bizarre legal framework governing (or not) tattooing in Japan, and helped establish the Save Tattooing movement that lobbies for a new set of laws that would lay out guidelines for legal tattoo businesses and establish a proper licensing system.
As Masuda points out, paying his fine would amount to accepting that the tattooing profession is an illegal one – an admission that would deal a body blow to skin art culture in Japan. If you agree with the sentiment, go ahead and sign the Save Tattooing petition. And when you're done, check out our article on tattooing in Tokyo for more background.
