[MMM]

I don't want to go too far out over the edge. In general, Japanese people see piercings and tattoos as graffitti on the beautiful body your parents gave you.

The young generation now does more piercing and tattooing than previous ones, but that image still exists to many Japanese, no matter where you come from.

I am sure customs at the airport is used to seeing tattoos on foreigners, but they don't need any reason to pull someone aside. Tattooes are not looked upon nicely at onsens and pools, as it can make other customers uncomfortable (some might even be offended) and they are associated with yakuza, though yakuza tattoos tend to be sleeves or whole upper body, and have distinct and traditional imagry, so no one is going to mistake you for being a yak with a I HEART MOM tattoo, but the rules are the rules.

There are many tattoo magazines and books in Japan, and the taboo nature is attractive to certain people, especially bikers and rockers.