在日本，長期以來公共浴場、游泳池等場所普遍實行對刺青者的限制，這種文化背景源自於防範黑社會組織「暴力團」的考量。在日本社會，刺青長期被視為黑社會成員彰顯權威或身份的象徵，因此許多公共娛樂設施會明文禁止有刺青的人進入，以維護場地的安全與秩序。這種做法雖然有其歷史背景，但也造成了對普通民眾的不公平限制，因為現代許多人將刺青視為個人審美或自我表達的一種方式，與犯罪行為無關。

近期，日本知名網路意見人物「ひろゆき」在網路上針對刺青者發表的一些評論，再度引起輿論對「刺青者愚蠢」這一觀點的討論。部分人認同刺青可能帶來負面印象，認為社會應該保持某種傳統觀念；但也有不少聲音指出，僅僅因為一個人有刺青就將其視作潛在犯罪者，是對個人權利的誤判與歧視。

從國際視角來看，刺青在許多國家早已不再被視為犯罪標誌，而是一種藝術、文化甚至身份認同的表達方式。將人僅僅因為刺青就與犯罪行為劃上等號，不僅忽視現代社會的多元價值，也可能傷害到普通市民的自由與尊嚴。社會如何平衡公共安全與個人自由，讓人們既能享受公共設施，又不因外表被貼標籤，成為當前關於刺青爭議中值得深思的議題。

整體而言，這場關於刺青的討論，既反映日本社會對傳統與現代價值的碰撞，也揭示公共政策在面對文化符號與個人權利時的挑戰。

In Japan, public bathhouses, swimming pools, and similar facilities have long imposed restrictions on people with tattoos. This cultural practice stems from concerns about deterring organized crime groups known as bōryokudan (yakuza). In Japanese society, tattoos have historically been regarded as symbols of authority or affiliation within the underworld. As a result, many public entertainment facilities explicitly prohibit entry to tattooed individuals in order to maintain safety and order. While this practice has historical roots, it has also led to unfair restrictions on ordinary people, since today many view tattoos as a form of personal aesthetics or self-expression that has nothing to do with crime.

Recently, well-known internet commentator “Hiroyuki” made remarks online about people with tattoos, reigniting public debate over the idea that “tattooed individuals are foolish.” Some agree that tattoos may still carry negative connotations and believe society should preserve traditional views. Others, however, argue that assuming anyone with a tattoo is a potential criminal is a misjudgment of personal rights and a form of discrimination.

From an international perspective, tattoos are no longer widely seen as markers of criminality. Instead, they are often embraced as expressions of art, culture, and even personal identity. Equating tattoos solely with criminal behavior disregards the diverse values of modern society and risks undermining the freedom and dignity of ordinary citizens. The question of how to balance public safety with individual freedom—ensuring people can enjoy public facilities without being stereotyped based on appearance—has become a pressing issue at the heart of this tattoo controversy.

Overall, this discussion reflects not only the clash between traditional and modern values in Japanese society but also the broader challenge public policy faces when navigating cultural symbols and individual rights.