[vulgarshudder]

I went to a uh 'elite' university, and never had issue with the piercings I've got. But then I was hardly in the 'serious' study crowd neither am I serious adult. I'm in a work situation now, so I'll take out piercings for work but otherwise i keep them in. In some groups of young people it's nothing unusual, especially if you're in Tokyo.

Social, no problem.
University, you don't need to worry about it.
Work, you do I'd say.