Tattoos in 2021

[matsuki]

For the record, I have no tattoos

This year I decided to advertise in a local MotoCross magazine and had my ad submission rejected by the publisher because "bad irezumi." Main sponsored pro rider (European) featured in one of the several images in the ad has a full sleeve. It's motorsport related (bike chain, gas can, gear, etc.), not a fake Japanese irezumi, and not a hot mess of misc tattoos. He's one of two riders on the Kawasaki team pictured in the pic. My issue is he's the main sponsored champion rider and wearing what is being advertised so I can't really use a pic of another rider or an image with the arm covered as it would also cover the product being advertised.

It seems unreasonable to be this strict as the image is not the main focus of the ad so the tattoo'd arm doesn't stick out and it's a MotoCross mag after all. After I explained the importance to have him included, wearing the product, I'm not getting anywhere so I offer a compromise to photoshop out the tattoos. The publisher says he understands and agrees. Halfway through my photoshopping out the tattoo, the publisher calls back and says they don't want me to remove the tattoos because it would "deny the rider his individuality." I said "Great! So we are good to go as is?" Nope...."we must request you do not use any images of this rider." I politely told them it's unfortunate but in that case, forget the ad.

Obviously Japan is famously slow when it comes to change but is a motorsports magazine like this being reasonably prudish about tattoos in 2021? I could understand if it was a magazine with a target demographic of 50+ women but we're talking about 14yo boys ~ men in their 40's here. Needless to say, it's an odd move to turn down money when the publishing companies are on a downward spiral as readers and advertising revenues go online.

[Grumpy Gramps]

I think, they are right. If the wifey sees a tattoo, she wouldn't buy whatever is advertised, just because of that, even if it has nothing to do with it. Rejection of tattoos seems to be pretty deeply ingrained in their programming.

Couldn't you photoshop a long sleeve t-shirt underneath whatever the guy wears?

[matsuki]

I think, they are right. If the wifey sees a tattoo, she wouldn't buy whatever is advertised, just because of that, even if it has nothing to do with it. Rejection of tattoos seems to be pretty deeply ingrained in their programming.

Couldn't you photoshop a long sleeve t-shirt underneath whatever the guy wears?

I agree with what you're saying but like I mentioned above, the target demographic is likely 13-45yo males. I've heard a lot of Japanese talk about how "furriners must respect Japanese no tattoo culture" but I can't think of one under 50 and male. It just seems to me like the typical focus on image over substance. "Tattoos are scary" meanwhile the neighbor who beat his wife and is a low level criminal is ok because he looks the part and is polite.

The impression I get from the publisher is the publisher is in his 60's and not interested in publishing anything with tattoos...which is well within their right to do, just not sure it's a good business decision for a company in a dying field.

After another call back where they are obviously in panic mode, I submitted a more zoomed in version where the arm is out of frame...maybe that will fly?

[Grumpy Gramps]

...the typical focus on image over substance. "Tattoos are scary"...

There you go. You can't beat Japanese superficialism.

[Taka-Okami]

...the typical focus on image over substance. "Tattoos are scary"...

There you go. You can't beat Japanese superficialism.

Japan doesn't want your filthy tattoo culture, nor your perverted homo's and alphabet people. Keep them in the degenerate West pls.

Thanks in advance.

[matsuki]

...the typical focus on image over substance. "Tattoos are scary"...

There you go. You can't beat Japanese superficialism.

Japan doesn't want your filthy tattoo culture, nor your perverted homo's and alphabet people. Keep them in the degenerate West pls.

Thanks in advance.

Ehhh, I don't have any tattoos and while I am definitely no fan of the whole woke idiocy going on in the west, my whole point was to not be a prude in an product ad.

[Wage Slave]

Ehhh, I don't have any tattoos and while I am definitely no fan of the whole woke idiocy going on in the west, my whole point was to not be a prude in an product ad.

Have you not noticed that the nativist populists are absolutely useless at making any sense or at doing things. All they are really good at is identifying groups of people and then blaming them. You have found yourself on the receiving end of it. Not nice, is it?

[matsuki]

Ehhh, I don't have any tattoos and while I am definitely no fan of the whole woke idiocy going on in the west, my whole point was to not be a prude in an product ad.

Have you not noticed that the nativist populists are absolutely useless at making any sense or at doing things. All they are really good at is identifying groups of people and then blaming them. You have found yourself on the receiving end of it. Not nice, is it?

For sure,still driving myself nuts expecting rational from the irrational. I guess another case of SJ's "In Japan money still talks, just not as loudly."