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For
the Japanese, tattoos have long been associated with members of
'yakuza' crime syndicates, and inked tourists may be met with
disapproval and sometimes banned from gyms, bathhouses or
traditional hot-spring resorts.
But tattoos are also a fundamental part of the Pacific identity
back home for the Samoans.
"We have to respect the culture of the land we are in wherever
we go. We have our own culture as well but we are not in Samoa
now," team manager Va'elua Aloi Alesana told the World Cup
website https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/463924.
"There are some training venues that have allowed us to show our
tattoos and some places where we can't, and for those places,
we've been given 'skins' to wear to cover our tattoos."
"The extra skins are only for when we go to the (swimming) pools
though. At the training we can wear our normal clothes."
Last December, World Rugby advised both players and supporters
to cover up tattoos during the tournament.
Samoa coach Steve Jackson called in Japanese cultural experts
ahead of the tournament to ensure players appreciate the local
culture.
"It's quite normal in our culture," Samoa captain Jack Lam said.
"But we are respectful and mindful to what the Japanese way is.
We will be making sure that what we are showing will be OK."
Samoa, ranked 16th in the world, face Russia in their opening
pool stage match on Sept. 24. They will also meet Scotland,
Japan and Ireland in Pool A.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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