My First Tattoo

A French television crew and a little a moon tattoo.

The night before I boarded a plane back to New York, I was asked if I wanted to get a free tattoo ... and if the entire process could be aired on French television. 

While it is now one of my favorite impulsive decisions of 2023, the late-night emotions that accompanied this choice were heavier than anticipated. That evening after getting inked, I found myself immersed in the depths of my thoughts, continually replaying the experience, and navigating the currents of regret that swirled around the tiny crescent moon etched into my skin.

In a country like Japan where tattoos are steeped in taboo, even the smallest of marks can get you kicked out of an onsen. Because of this along with my religious upbringing, they were never on my bucket list. But despite it all, it was an immediate yes.

The events played out like this: I was enjoying an evening in Tokyo with my friend Shoko, scarfing down my favorite Tom Yum at the best Thai place in Tokyo. In the middle of our meal, she got a message from our mutual friend Jake Adelstein, a crime journalist in Japan, saying that he was around the corner conducting an interview with a tattoo artist. I’m always down for getting a glimpse into Jake's projects, so we made our way over right after my last bite of sticky rice.

The shop was called “Hard Core Tattoo”, a place one would receive a full-on yakuza back tat. The French television crew arrived shortly after us and began an interview with one of the workers. After shooting some scenes, Shoko casually mentioned that I should get tattooed so that the team had some extra B-roll. She took the idea to the the film crew and they thought that it would be the perfect way to get my first tattoo. The very next day, I was on the table.

It might not seem like the wildest decision a person could make, especially since I have experiences like traversing the Peruvian mountainside with artists I met the week prior on Instagram and getting proposed to by a 74-year old man in New York city. However, saying yes to this pea-sized tattoo set my heart pounding at the pace of a train hurling down the tracks at 100 miles an hour.

But I did it. Despite the fear.

I was worked on while getting asked in detail about tattoo culture in Japan by the French film crew, a topic that I have surface level knowledge of at best but I put on my best fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude while trying not to show my nerves. Then in less than five minutes, it was done. A little moon surrounded by a constellation of beauty marks.

No matter how small of a step, I recognized that leaving your comfort zone isn’t an easy thing. The permanence of a tattoo, while not altering day-to-day life significantly does leave a lasting mark on both body and mind. Among other things, this small memento on my skin now serves as a reminder of both the permanence of our decisions yet the incredible ability we all possess to craft our lives through our choices.

After the moon dust settled, I came to absolutely adore the little crescent mark on my arm and the memories surrounding it. On my last day in Japan I was blessed to be with my two great friends (plus a French television crew) to get my very first tattoo, an experience forever imprinted on my body and heart. 

Keep Wandering,

Johnna

Instagram Website