Comments Thread For: Ioka: Tattoos Have Nothing To Do With Boxing, I Hope To Chip Away At JBC Rule

[_Rexy_]

Your sentiment screams of ignorance of someone not travelled and uncaring of another country’s culture. I’d expect it from someone that’s never left their own backyard.

I don’t agree with the rule however it doesn’t make it “******.”

ehhh it's ****** in the sense that they allow guys who fight out of Japan (Linares for example, has fought out of and trained out of Japan his entire career) have tattoos but not guys of Japanese nationality.

[Boxingfanatic75]

ehhh it's ****** in the sense that they allow guys who fight out of Japan (Linares for example, has fought out of and trained out of Japan his entire career) have tattoos but not guys of Japanese nationality.

It’s definitely an outdated cultural rule.

[Eff Pandas]

Your sentiment screams of ignorance of someone not travelled and uncaring of another country’s culture. I’d expect it from someone that’s never left their own backyard.

I don’t agree with the rule however it doesn’t make it “******.”

I mean it's a ****** rule regardless. Tattoos have nothing to do with boxing. It's a personal choice/style thing. If a boxer is in the Yakuza or whatever just catch & arrest that mfer doing some sh^t wrong & he won't be boxing anymore.

And Ioka is part of the same culture that doesn't think it's ******, but he seems to think it's ******. I'm sure there are others of the culture who agree with Ioka.

[lopetego]

It's ironic that Japan, probably the most secular country in the world, where religious bigots have no place, is at the same time so anally retentive when it comes to something insignificant like tattoos

So tattoos are forbidden because japanese gang members wear tattoos. Imagine that

That **** happens everywhere!

I guess latino countries should start banning tattoos because of the maras

[fourtheboys96]

It may be the style of his tattoo. Its a sleeve tattoo popular with gangs and criminals. The writing on his ribs look fine.

Trust me. Ioka's tattoo is quite far from the gang-type tattoos in Japan.

He's got a western type lion.

Japan lion tattoo looks like a dragon.

[Sosay]

Your sentiment screams of ignorance of someone not travelled and uncaring of another country’s culture. I’d expect it from someone that’s never left their own backyard.

I don’t agree with the rule however it doesn’t make it “******.”

No bro, it is ****** and screams of hypocrisy. I understand if that's the rule but make it the rule for everyone. It doesn't make them too uncomfortable if they allow outsiders to do because it brings money.

[THC]

No bro, it is ****** and screams of hypocrisy. I understand if that's the rule but make it the rule for everyone. It doesn't make them too uncomfortable if they allow outsiders to do because it brings money.

For the vast majority of Japanese people, tattoos are associated with organized crime. The national boxing commission is probably trying to avoid having the sport being sullied with that perception.

Guys like Linares (if he has tattoos) are exempt from this rule because the public largely assumes foreigners to be ignorant of local culture and history, and therefore they can be excused for the transgression.

But boxing, a western sport, is relatively new to Japan. Some traditional martial arts cultures maintain longstanding, entrenched attitudes regarding social etiquette. A guy I know at work, a caucasian, went to Japan to study kendo (contemporary form of sword fighting). He visited one dojo (practice hall) where he was welcomed for his interest and invited to join the class. All went well until they saw the tattoos on his forearms. He was politely asked to leave.

[Ray*]

Am sure they would drop this rule soon, if the Supreme Court already handed down a rule that it is no longer a crime to have a tattoo without a medical license, then am sure this rule would be on the way to been dropped by the JBC.

I think it’s more of a moral thing than anything else. Sometimes we are a victim of our own culture.

[komandante]

Why did they allowed Mike Tyson fight in Japan. That rule made JBC ****** and should be abolished.

[Monty Fisto]

Why did they allowed Mike Tyson fight in Japan. That rule made JBC ****** and should be abolished.

Because Tyson's tattoos obviously do not conjure any associations with the Yakuza. Tattoos on a Japanese fighter do for a Japanese audience. Hence the rule. Is it that hard to understand?

Different countries have different traditions, different customs. Some countries will find certain things offensive that would be fine in another country.

If Japanese audiences find tattoos on Japanese fighters offensive (which apparently is the case), then the rule does make sense.