For whatever reason, the United States seem to think that it is immune to this phenomenon; that tattoos over here are only an expression of personal identity and are in no way used to separate people out.
Tattoos still have a stigma in United States culture as a sign of a hoodlum or miscreant, or if not this powerful, someone who at the very least is a member of the counter-culture. To be fair, the United States is not alone in this; Japanese people still have great fear of tattoos because of the dreaded Yaks, an organized crime syndicate that covers themselves, often head to toe, in intricately designed tattoos.
Many Japanese bath-houses will still not permit people sporting tattoos, for fear that they may be connected with the notorious criminals. While the United States may be slightly more tempered to the usage of tattoos than Japan, we still show a great deal of anxiety over the issue.
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