Foreigner kicked out of onsen...what will Dedbeato say?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

For those who can stomach this woman's patronizing tripe, she gets kicked out of the onsen....

[Greji]

For those who can stomach this woman's patronizing tripe, she gets kicked out of the onsen....

I think she should have been thrown out because of her writing ability...

[soulboy]

She got kicked for having a tattoo which everyone should know is not allowed in Japanese onsens or gyms and is not racial discrimination.

By the way I like what debito is doing. If no one complains about discrimination nothing will change in this country.

[sillygirl]

Ugh, read up to where she bathed in 'Golden Water'......

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I think she should have been thrown out because of her writing ability...

Characters in bold text indicate an oxymoron.

That's assuming I've got the meaning of the word right...either way, she's a bloody moron, that's for sure.

By the way I like what debito is doing. If no one complains about discrimination nothing will change in this country.

Sorry, soulboy. The title was meant to be a pisstake and not taken in seriousness.
Does Japan have to change? What, to become another U.S. clone? Don't like it? Go home. It's their country, their rules, love 'em or leave.
Having said that, there are some things Dadbeato does that are a help, but a lot of his efforts are self-serving. I think he would do a lot better focusing entirely on matters of great importance to the foreign community rather than piddly little issues like establishments that won't let people in because they're worried about how to deal with said people being unable to speak the language of the land.

[alicia454]

I have visited many onsens in Honshu and Kyushu with one or more foreign friends and/or relatives, and never had any problems, even when we are the only foreigners in the entire place. (Other than simple embarrassment on my part from having other friendly Japanese women come up and chat or practice their English with me, while we are both naked.)

It helps to know and follow the rules, know a bit of Japanese, and be respectful.

Last year, an old friend of mine came over to visit from Canada and wanted to visit an onsen. So we took a weekend trip to Shimoda, and I made her wear a couple of bandages over the flower tattoos on both her ankles. Problem solved!

On a side note, many onsens offer private mixed family bath areas, which can be reserved and used by couples and families, and often have their own changing areas. As long as one's tattoos are covered up by a yukata and/or bandages, then no one else will notice.

[Yokohammer]

Found this on the "Ooedo Onsen Monogatari" website linked at the end of the article:

Notes:
persons with tattoos are asked to refrain from using the facilities.

As expected. It's a standard rule. But what I find most surprising is that it apparently didn't occur to the writer, even after being kicked out for ignoring the no-tattoo rule, to try and find out why such a rule exists and inform her readers. That tidbit of information would have given the piece at least a shred of cultural interest.

Another example of piss-poor self-congratulatory travel reportage. We seem to be having a spate.

[Ketou]

I'm lost. Apart from the usual japan newbie style I can't see where she was patronising, moronic or even complained about it at all.
I really don't understand the fuss here.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'm lost. Apart from the usual japan newbie style I can't see where she was patronising, moronic or even complained about it at all.
I really don't understand the fuss here.

...two foreigners, affectionately (or so we think) called "Gaijin" (in Japanese, which literally translates as "alien")....

....As is Japanese custom, we take photos of the four of us in every combination possible.....

...Awano-Sensei, a dead ringer for Mr Miagi from 'Karate Kid' (look at the photo -- he's nothing like Pat Morita) and a mere 5 feet.....

....three red-faced daughters all gawk at my pale nudity....

...they all inhale a sharp breathe before the giggling commences...

...there is a tap on my knee and a little Japanese voice advising me that I have it tied up all wrong....

...and so on, and so on....

[kino]

I'm lost. Apart from the usual japan newbie style I can't see where she was patronising, moronic or even complained about it at all.
I really don't understand the fuss here.

Yah, I kind of have to agree. Her tone is that of simply relating an experience. She doesn't seem to level any harsh criticism at the onsen and even provides information regarding the establishment at the end of the article. If this is considered complaining, no wonder some people find Debito so shrill.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sorry, sorry...the Dedbeato reference was meant to be tongue in cheek.

Her expulsion was totally understandable. I just found her tone to be really patronizing (see above cited examples).

[Mulboyne]

SDH posted it in the "Newbie Reporter" part of the News forum so his target is the journalist's style of writing and not the actions of the onsen attendant. We used to have a dedicated thread for such pieces but it was getting too long so Ultra created a separate part of the News forum for such pieces. The disadvantage is that it's not clear, when you look at a post on the front page, which forum it's in.

[xenomorph42]

I'm lost. Apart from the usual japan newbie style I can't see where she was patronising, moronic or even complained about it at all.
I really don't understand the fuss here.

It was quite painful reading through this article, had to take 3 breaks before getting to the boring end.
I also agree, why all the fuss??
She is no Danielle Steele that's for sure. Having said that, maybe she should have inquired first or studied about Japanese etiquette and culture.

As for Debito getting involved with this situation it depends. If he reads this and her writing, intellect or lack there of, can't keep his anointed majesty's attention, then he won't surely get involved with this.

[Level3]

She's not as bad as Amy Chavez.
But then, who is?

I love the no tattoo rule because it usually keeps out -
A. Yakuza and (more importantly) stupid young thugs
B. Gaijin whose lives are so empty they feel the need to be sheep and get inked and tell everyone about their tattoo cause they have nothing interesting to say.

If you didn't get a tattoo in the military, in prison, on on tour, you didn't earn it.

[kusai Jijii]

"What would Debito say?"
Who the fuck cares what that self-serving wanker would say? I just wish he'd get back to doing what he does best - having slagging matches in the JT with that other resident whack-job, Uncle Greg - so I can have a giggle while eating my muffin in the mornings.

[Coligny]

She's not as bad as Amy Chavez.
But then, who is?

I love the no tattoo rule because it usually keeps out -
A. Yakuza and (more importantly) stupid young thugs
B. Gaijin whose lives are so empty they feel the need to be sheep and get inked and tell everyone about their tattoo cause they have nothing interesting to say.

If you didn't get a tattoo in the military, in prison, on on tour, you didn't earn it.

French have an old joke linked to a car commercial aboot tatoos...

<start of a boring telling, those in a hurry might stop here:>
Some time ago, Renault started a car named the Clio (Lutecia in Japan) the car was a followup and a departure from her mother and grandmother respectively the Renault Super5 and the Renault 5 (think older Nissan March) who were barebone cheap city cars (along with the countryside equivalent called the Renault 4L, hopelessly powerless but really high on her wheels to help farmers go in the fields, unlike modern SUV who never see any mud the 4L were mainly used on manure, mud or gravel when lucky). So as a departure from the 5er serie they made a smaller city car (Twingo) and this little bigger city/road car the Clio (think new March, since anyway they now share the same plateform). To highlight the upgrading of this car the slogan was "She got everything like a big one".

Here come the joke... The only tatoo I got is on my dick... and it's written 'Clio', because she got everything like a big one. If you wuz french... you'd find this hillarious...

<end of boredom>

[Coligny]

Does Japan have to change? What, to become another U.S. clone? Don't like it? Go home. It's their country, their rules, love 'em or leave.

Geez, not this shit again... it's mah planet... they can take their shit and go on the moon... (where is Napoleon Bonaparte when you need him...)

[xenomorph42]

[quote="Screwed-down Hairdo"]Characters in bold text indicate an oxymoron.


Does Japan have to change? What, to become another U.S. clone? Don't like it? Go home. It's their country, their rules, love 'em or leave.

They ARE already a clone, you just found that out??

[hundefar]

persons with tattoos are asked to refrain from using the facilities.

There are big signs that says so in both English and Japanese at the premises too. You have to be very much in your own world not to notice if you visit the place.

[Yokohammer]

There are big signs that says so in both English and Japanese at the premises too. You have to be very much in your own world not to notice if you visit the place.

Exactly.

But in the article she says she saw the sign ... but chose to ignore it. Not good etiquette. Supplying that information in a "travel report" does not serve as a good example, either. And, as I stated earlier, the fact that she didn't follow up and find out why there is such a rule is just poor reportage. There's no way for a reader to know whether this is just a quirk of that particular facility or a standard rule in Japan, and why.

So, although I don't think the article itself is critical in any way, the lack of essential background information is likely to lead readers to negative conclusions. In my mind that makes it irresponsible fluff.

[Greji]

If you didn't get a tattoo in the military, in prison, on on tour, you didn't earn it.

I got a devil tatoo on each cheek of my ass and each is shoveling coal. I earned it and I have also never been asked to leave an onsen, or a public bath.

[Coligny]

I got a devil tatoo on each cheek of my ass and each is shoveling coal. I earned it and I have also never been asked to leave an onsen, or a public bath.

Yeah but not everybody can hide his tatoos under a hairy ass...

[Yokohammer]

I got a devil tatoo on each cheek of my ass and each is shoveling coal. I earned it and I have also never been asked to leave an onsen, or a public bath.

Ha! All you'd have to do is remain seated!

[Cortana]

I got mine while on on a military prison tour.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I got mine (a map of Australia on my arse) when I was young and firm. Then I became big and fat and it became Pangaea. Then I became old and thin and my arse became saggy and now it looks like a cross between Sweden, Italy, a Munch painting and the ghost from the "Scream" movies.

[Greji]

I got mine (a map of Australia on my arse) when I was young and firm. Then I became big and fat and it became Pangaea. Then I became old and thin and my arse became saggy and now it looks like a cross between Sweden, Italy, a Munch painting and the ghost from the "Scream" movies.

That's a shame. The devils are still shoveling coal...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

That's a shame. The devils are still shoveling coal...

You're obviously not as much of a slob as me....

[Greji]

You're obviously not as much of a slob as me....

Oh, I'm a slob alright. It's just that I'm a stoking slob.....

[alicia454]

As I mentioned before, what is wrong with covering up tattoos with bandages when visiting an onsen? It worked for my friend, and I don't think there are rules against having bandages.

And of course there are private mixed family units with their own changerooms in many onsens that one can reserve. Just ask if they have it before you book.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

As I mentioned before, what is wrong with covering up tattoos with bandages when visiting an onsen?

I've got a really hairy arse (hairier than my head, actually)...I don't relish the idea of ripping the bandage off and taking a chunk of fur with it.