《中英對照讀新聞》Public baths starting to give tattooed guests the thumbs up 公眾澡堂開始對刺青客放行

◎張沛元

Tattooed guests used to be denied a dip in a public bath due to the longtime practice among operators of bathhouses and traditional "ryokan" inns of banning those with body art.

日本公眾澡堂與傳統日式旅館業者長期以來禁止有紋身這種人體藝術的客人入內消費，以致刺青客過去只能望湯興嘆。

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But the attitude of operators is softening as a growing number of foreign residents and tourists show up at their establishments bearing tattoos as a fashion statement or religious custom.

但隨著愈來愈多把刺青當時尚宣言或基於宗教習俗而紋身的外籍居民與遊客現身要求泡湯，業者的態度已有所軟化。

"Due consideration should be given （to tattooed foreign travelers） since Japan is aiming to become a tourism-oriented country," said Japan Tourism Agency （JTA） Commissioner Akihiko Tamura.

「既然日本以成為觀光導向國家為目標，就應該對（有刺青的外籍遊客）有適當考量。」日本觀光廳長官田村明比古說。

With the nation eager to appear open-minded to new trends and foreign customs in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, the government-run JTA plans to promote awareness in the tourism industry that tattoos are linked to fashion and religion among foreign visitors and not specifically associated with gangs and rebellion.

隨著日本熱切想在2020東京夏季奧運來臨前展現意願接納新潮流與外國習俗，官方機構日本觀光廳打算促進旅遊業界人士了解到，外國遊客的刺青通常牽涉到時尚或宗教信仰，不見得一定是與幫派或叛亂有關。

Going to a hot spring ranked third after Japanese food and shopping on a list of things overseas tourists are looking forward to during their stay in Japan, according to a JTA survey of foreign travelers who came to Japan between January and March 2015.

根據日本觀光廳針對在2015年1月到3月訪日的外籍旅客所做的調查，海外遊客訪日期間最期待的事，泡溫泉排名第3，僅次於大啖美食與逛街購物。

新聞辭典

give something the thumbs up：慣用語，給…豎起的大拇指，表示對某事的喜歡、讚許或樂見其成。例句：We all gave her homemade pie the thumbs up.（大家都對她的手工派讚不絕口。）

show up：慣用語，出現，抵達。

aim to：慣用語，打算做某事。例句：She aims to fly to London.（她打算搭機飛往倫敦。）