Japan's Military Considers Lifting Tattoo Ban to Attract Young Recruits Amid Low Birth Rate

Japan is getting closer to ending a tradition that prohibits people with tattoos from joining the Self-Defence Forces (SDF), highlighting the shortage of personnel in the country's military.

The Stigma of Tattoos in Japan

Tattoos are widely accepted in many countries, but in Japan, especially by the older generations, they are still perceived as a sign of involvement in organized crime groups known as "yakuza."

In the 1700s, tattoos started being used to identify criminals, with markings ranging from a simple band on the wrist to a character on the forehead.

Tattoos were stigmatized in Japan because they were associated with criminal organizations, and the rest of society rejected them. Although some young people have chosen to get trendy tattoos that are popular in other countries despite the negative views, the number of people with tattoos in Japan remains very low.

A Change of Heart

Due to a lack of skilled personnel, the military is trying to find new recruits. Masahisa Sato, a former officer in the Ground Self-Defence Force and member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, suggested that regulations preventing certain individuals, such as those with tattoos, from joining the armed forces should be relaxed, as reported by South China Morning Post.

According to The Japan Times, Sato believes rejecting applicants based on tattoos could hinder the military's human resources development.

Sato clarified that tattoos such as small flowers or personal names, common in the fashion industry, should not be confused with the extensive tattoos favored by yakuza gangs.

Kazuhito Machida, who leads the personal and education division of the defense ministry, agreed with Sato's statement. He stated that the government should review its policies in light of the country's declining birth rate, as the number of new babies born last year was less than 800,000.

As Japan's population decreases, there is also a shortage of personnel. This is happening at the same time as the security situation in northeast Asia is getting worse. China is becoming more aggressive in the region, North Korea has nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, and Russia is presenting new challenges.

In April, the ministry announced that only 4,300 new people were hired on fixed-term contracts for the SDF during the financial year that ended in March. This is less than half of their goal of 9,245 recruits for all three military branches. This is the biggest shortage since 2009 when similar data was first collected.

Japan has approximately 247,000 members in its military, which is only 90% of its ideal size. Despite their attempts to recruit new members, there is still a shortage. The lack of awareness of security issues among the Japanese people is the leading cause of the shortage, according to Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Tokyo. In contrast to other countries, it is uncommon to see individuals in uniform in Japan.

Other Reasons Many People Don't Want to Join the Armed Forces in Japan

Hinata-Yamaguchi stated that despite many people not knowing that joining the armed forces is a viable career option, some also think the military is not essential. Moreover, there is a notion that working in the military does not offer good pay and that there are more advantageous job opportunities in the civilian sector.

People may not want to pursue a career in the services for many reasons. Some of these include instances of bullying and sexual harassment towards recruits, inadequate living conditions, and facilities on military bases. With the aging population and fewer young people entering the workforce, the military faces a personnel shortage and must develop innovative ways to attract new recruits.