In Japan, tattoos have long carried a stigma due to their association with irezumi, the traditional ink of yakuza gangsters.
In the past, this negative connotation could make job hunting more difficult for locals with hard-to-cover tattoos and limit access to gyms, public pools and onsen (hot springs) for tattoo-bearing visitors as well.
However, the country’s younger generations are pushing back against the stereotype of inked-up delinquency with a different kind of body art: temporary tattoos made from natural dyes and biodegradable materials.
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