Public baths in Japan are preparing to over-look their traditional distaste for tattoos and open their doors for visitors during next year's Rugby World Cup.
According to Japan's Kyodo News agency, the city that the All Blacks are scheduled to play in during the 2019 tournament, has prepared a map titled "100 tattoo‑allowed hot springs" that will guide visitors to tattoo friendly public bathing spots.
In Japan, public displays of tattoos are frowned upon because of their association with the criminal or gangster activity in the society.
On the map, public baths have been colour coded either blue, orange or dark blue, with the 50 in blue allowing visitors with tattoos in their large baths, the 40 in orange asking the ink‑wearers to use private pools and 10 in dark blue allowing only the soaking of hands and feet in tubs.
Rugby World Cup organisers had previously advised competing teams to cover up tattoos in certain public areas while in Japan.
[Source: stuff.co]
