Tattoo Parlours Off Limits For Military Personnel

[Mulboyne]

[FG Lurker]

I wonder if it is due to the poor (or complete lack of!) sterilization practices common at tattoo parlours here? Lots of hepatitis problems.

[American Oyaji]

Actually, the way it reads to me that it only applies to certain Navy personnel.

At Misawa, we barely had any restrictions.

[Kaiju]

A convenient way of making the "Japanese Only" issue a non-issue. Just make them off limits. A very military way of dealing with it.

[Nukemarine]

This may just be a sea story, but it makes sense: The Tattoo parlour is due to some parlours outside the US using opiates in the ink to numb the pain. That opens the chance to fail a drug test. This is similar to the reason we're not supposed to go to local drug stores as some OTC medications may contain things that'll make us pop on a piss test.

Personally, I think the above if true is just an over reaction to a possibility rather that a reality, but then again I have my own beef about the military drug testing process.

The other issues on the "off-limits" is just due to marines and sailors causing headaches thanks to: Lack of language communication, lack of ability to read posted rules, lack of understanding of how certain bars ie Snack Pubs work, and lots of alcohol. Like anywhere else in Japan, most "Japanese Only" clubs in Yokosuka really mean "Speak Japanese Only" which will get you in the door. Some are genuinely racist, but seems more the exception than the rule.

[American Oyaji]

I've got agree. Only once in eight years did I run across a place that they asked me to leave. Been in loads of places that were "Japanese Only".
That one place was a back alley pawn shop in Konakano 2-chime in Hachinohe. Was my last day in town before I returned stateside. Old guy seemed genuinely sorry. I asked him why and told of some trouble he'd had with gaijin in the past.

[Greji]

Actually, the way it reads to me that it only applies to certain Navy personnel.

At Misawa, we barely had any restrictions.

They just weren't announced well enough. HQ 5AF has had the same restrictions for years. USFJ generally allows all services to set out their own "off-limits" policies, unless they feel it is a matter that should be consolidated across the board....