This is Japan
Sorry, I have been away on business and neglected the blog. However, it hasn’t left my mind at all. I have had so many positive comments and excellent response regarding the blog that I feel even more confident that this is the right thing to be doing.. Some people have contacted me interested in translating it into other languages such as Spanish and German. I think that this is very good for the Bujinkan community, and energy in the right direction. So, please keep an eye out for other languages.
Now on to my point… This is Japan…so it should be treated like Japan. A very important point of being a budoka, or a ninja is blending in. Unfortunately, in Japan, if you are not Japanese, you stick out like a black sheep amongst many white ones. So what can we do to decrease the impact?
Please remember that we are training in a traditional martial art and despite the very unique openness of our Soke; there are still things that should be avoided. The one that I feel like addressing today is the aspect of Tattoos. However, this is realted to all things and basic common sense can identify simliar things that should be avoided as well.
In the west tattoos are widely accepted and even seen as a form of fashion. To have a tattoo is not necessary attached to a fixed idea, but in Japan, even though not always spoken of, this is not the case.
Japan is becoming more and more westernized and more and more forgiving, however having a tattoo is still a sign of someone being attached to some criminal element. In history, those that are sporting tattoos are considered to be part of Japan’s criminal organization or the Yakuza.
So, the Bujinkan, being a martial art that strictly prohibits the teaching of criminals, is difinately not the place to sport a tattoos. Now, when I say sport a tattoos, I’m referring to the decision you make in how much you show in training. The typically accepted Bujinkan training wear is a pair of Gi pants, a belt and a t-shirt. But if you have many tattoos and wear a tank top, you are being insensitive and disrespectful to the art, our soke, the Shihan and Japan in general. Some will have the additude of “this is no big deal” or “i don’t care”. Well, unfortunatley if this is the case, then it is better if that person just not come to Japan. Becuase this additude is not welcome.
Again, I will reiterate that we have the most open Japanese teacher of Japanese martial arts, but why make yourself a target.
Now, I’m not writing this because I detest tattoos, I’m writing this because we as a community need to be more respectful of our teacher and the culture of Japan. It is up to us to preserve this martial art. Soke is not traveling the world to teach, so we must come here to train with him and in my opinion too many people are not sensitive enough to the fact that this is Japan and think that they are here just for the training and ignore the surrounding environment.
For the goodness of our reputation and for the Bujinkan, consider being considerate. Agian this is by no means limited to tattoos, but too sensitivity to Japanese culture in general and furthermore the basics to blending with your surroundings a very exterme basic of Ninpo.
Soke is constantly teaching us how to NOT make ourselves a target. Try putting that teaching to use, it will make a difference for the individual and the Bujinkan Community.
June 25, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Interesting. As you write - this is not just about tattoos. It’s about appearance and behaviour. It’s also what’s written on the t-shirt. A find that a lot of people have obscene texts on their shirts to show how much of a bad guy they are. It’s six months since my first Japan trip and luckily I only saw one or too that I thought was over the line.
Anyway, I really like your blog.
Cheers, Lars (Denmark)
June 26, 2007 at 10:42 pm
This is interesting. Just a note to add to this: My husband is a Bujinkan practitioner who has full sleeve tattoos, and we visit Japan every year to see my (very conservative) family, some friends, and for him to train. We have never had a problem with his tattoos, and I do believe that this is in no small part because Japanese distinguish greatly between non-Asians and Asians with tattoos.
That said, I do agree with you Doug re: dojo etiquette — I know my husband has never experienced anything but a little bit of interest in his tattoos from Shihan and other practitioners, and he’s always felt from his teachers that he is conducting himself in a very respectful way. That is probably because he does cover up as much as possible and doesn’t call attention to himself in general, as well as respecting the fact he is a visitor in Japan.
So, that said, I do think it is perfectly alright to sport tattoos in the dojo, but I applaud you, Doug, for recommending that people tone down the attitude and exhibitionist streak that sometimes comes with their body art. A reminder to do a little research on the country you are visiting, and to be respectful of the culture you are guest of is always good to relay. Thanks!
July 2, 2007 at 7:07 am
I’m always surprised hearing about people practising budo doing as if they were hairy/long-nosed/smelly Gaijin while in Japan. And a little bit bit confused. Aren’t Martail Arts (a little bit) about culture, civilisation and thinking?
July 9, 2007 at 4:31 am
I also have tattoos that are visible in short-sleeve shirts. That is why I wear a Gi- top always when training in Japan. As visitors, I think many people forget that they leave an impact on those that live in Japan. DKMS is held at the Budokan where there is usually other traditional Martial Arts going on at the same time and some of the Shihan’s classes are held where other traditional Martial Arts are being practiced. There may even be important visitors at the Hombu. We go over and stay for a week or so and then come home. Everything we do reflects on Soke and those Shihan that we visit and they have to live with the impressions that we leave on their peers. If we behave or appear in a disrespectful manner, Soke and those Shihan who have been generous to us, look bad in the eyes of those they see EVERYDAY and this is a poor way for a student to behave. I have watched people enter the Budokan, Hombu, and other Dojo without removing their shoes and I have taken other people’s trash out of the Hombu.
With so many people visiting Japan, there really is no reason for anybody not having a basic understanding of Japanese culture. I have made mistakes, and most Japanese are forgiving when they realize that you are trying to respect their culture.This message has been posted for several years, but people still don’t seem to get it.
http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/bujinkan/
Being respectful also opens up many doors for you and makes the whole experience that much more educational and enjoyable. It seems that many can’t let the world not revolve around themselves for just a short time while they are in another country. Remember, Soke and the Shihan don’t have to share this knowledge with us and can shut the doors if we don’t at least try to respect them and their culture.
July 10, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I can see your point about “when in Rome” with regard to observing dojo etiquette while training in Japan. I have never been to Japan to train. If/when I do go, I will do my best to follow dojo etiquette, just as I would here in the States.
From what I’ve seen in the Bujinkan, in California at least, there is very little emphasis on following dojo etiquette, whether you’re talking about “covering tattoos” or “naughty t-shirts”, or the equally important things like bowing, mokuso, proper language, etc. What I’ve seen (albeit I can only speak to California) in the dojos or training groups is lots of laughing, horseplay, profanity, and in some cases completely ignoring the opening and closing rituals for training.
I think you should worry a bit more about getting people training back into a “focused” mindset, adherence to the traditional rituals of dojo training HERE, then they will have something to base how they behave in Japan on. Respect is earned, and learned, by setting examples. If students training see a slovenly instructor or senior student “acting a fool”, whether we’re talking about dress or behavior while training, they will probably think that’s the “thumbs up” to do the same.
July 13, 2007 at 7:22 am
This reminds me of another related topic which I think about a lot when I am in Japan, and that is the Bujinkan “symbol” (is it exactly linguistically correct to call it a “Mon”?) This symbol is associated by people in the Noda area, certainly as far as Kashiwa, and maybe even to some in Tokyo proper, with the Bujinkan and with Soke Hatsumi.
I wish that people would think a little more about that when they are wandering around the area. If people are going to be loud, or rude, or make fools of themselves, it is one thing, but to do so with the Bujinkan Mon clearly visible seems to me to be quite another.
The same goes for tattoos, but maybe even more seriously. Random people on the street who see that symbol on a bunch of tattoo covered people… is that an association that we as responsible members of the Bujinkan want to create in the local populace?
It is very sad to think that people come to Japan to train, and do not realize that even when they go home, Soke and the Hombu are still there in Japan, and left to deal with whatever animosity, misconceptions, or problems that their behavior creates.
September 4, 2007 at 5:30 am
All this depends on the individual how he presents himself in the occasion. Unfortunately I see some animosity in this post against tattoos… maybe things have changed in Ayase and Hombu.
Yes I have my right arm and back fully covered in a tattoo. Never received any disrespect or even the slightest hint of reservation from our Japanese shihan.
September 13, 2007 at 1:55 am
Hi Doug,
Recently started reading your blog and would like to thank you for openly sharing your views with the readers.
I’ve just read your post titled “This is Japan” and I would like to say a few words. May I?
In addition to this tattoos issue mentioned here, I would really appreciate if you could discuss about the slippers issue as well.
At Ayase Budokan, we see that mostly those Westerners (I think they are visitor-instructors & students, not residents) just don’t care making a mess with their taken off slippers at the entrance of the training room. Always we Japanese put them right and make the entrance clear for Soke and Japanese Shihan-instructor who accompanies him to walk in. From time to time I myself experience that those visitors throw their slippers off beside me while I am straightening them up.
I think they are totally lack of decent etiquette and lack of respect.
This messy state we see every time at Ayase is really disgusting, and it does shame Soke’s name and Bujinkan’s name. I am pretty sure other groups using the Budokan facilities are disgusted with us.
Soke, Japanese Shihan instructors, Japanese students, non-Japanese Westerners living here - all locals here - see this, and I personally feel very very disappointed.
Can you imagine how we Japanese look at those Westerners and how we feel about them?
How those people who cannot be thoughtful and delicate enough to spot even a tiny issue like this would be able to understand all these sensitive elements of our Budo that Soke shows us?
Would you please note that some issues which may look less important or serious to the eyes of the Westerners could be rather disturbing for Japanese people?
Doug, I do hope to see in the near future that they would understand and eventually demonstrate a bit more decent dojo etiquette for the sake of Bujinkan.
Thank you very much for your and other readers’ kind attention.
September 18, 2007 at 8:27 am
A japanese friend, shared with me this blog without doing any references to this theme beside the link itself.
As this friend knows me, I get the message and I felt compeled to right this words.
This is not about tattoos, this is about attitude. Let me put it in a western way:
If I am visiting a friend of mine and staying in his home for a couple of weeks in a different city where nobody knows me, that means I am aloud to: arrive drunk to his home fully smelling alcohol? Or wake up all his neibours at 4 am because I am on holidays? Or disrespect his wife, sister, daughter, mother? Or have no manners? Or brake his TV? Or disrespect the citizens of that city just because nobody knows me?
Well I think not, but many western guys come to Japan not thinking this way, some of them even lives in Japan, what is worse.
I am training since 1991 and assist to many Taikai and I am visiting Japan everytime I am able to afford it. During all this time I listen Hatsumi Sensei saying that a member of Bujinkan should be a gentlemen and act as that. Maybe those foreigner without manners, do not know that Dojo is just a part of Japan, and even when they are away from Dojo, there they are Soke’s visitors and should respect him, not only in the Dojo but every second they are there, because each stupid and rude thing they does, they are disrespecting Sensei and Bujinkan.
Gonçalo Rosa from Portugal