Prostitution Medallion

[snopes]

http://www.snopes.com/risque/hookers/medal.asp

[snopes]

Comment: I have an update for the "Prostitution Medallion" page, in the
section dealing with tattoos. I worked as a gas station clerk in Phoenix
for two years (Mar 2011-2013) and have spotted a tattoo reading "I can't
read this because I'm a stupid American" in Japanese on two separate men;
the first gentleman was kind enough to translate it for me (I can read a
tiny amount of Japanese, but not enough to read entire phrases right off)
and tell me that the tattoo shop he got it at offers several ludicrous
"pretty characters" tattoos, accurately labeled (he knew exactly what was
going on his arm and, since he cannot in truth actually read the
characters, thought it would make a good joke).

The second one I figured out when I spotted the kanji for "gaijin" (it
means "American," but it carries a similar derogatory weight as
"gringo"--it's not a nice thing to be called) amid the characters and was
able to piece it together from a couple of other characters. This guy
proudly told me the tattoo meant "strength." Given that he was twice my
size and it was 1am, I figured it was better not to correct him.

This might be a case of the legend birthing reality, but yes, the tattoos
actually exist, as of 2012.

[Beachlife!]

Gaijin does not mean American, it means foreigner. It is also a combination of two kanji rather than a single symbol.

[Mad Jay]

More than being a "Black eye for the Brahmins" tale

That's the first time I heard that phrase. Actually googling it just yields one page. What does it mean?

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Mad Jay

What does it mean?

Something that makes a member of a higher social class appear foolish or undignified.

[ganzfeld]

Originally Posted by snopes

(he knew exactly what was
going on his arm and, since he cannot in truth actually read the
characters, thought it would make a good joke).

Most likely, the joke's on you since you had no idea what it actually said. (And it would take a pro headline writer to get all that in one tattoo.)

[nonnieyrissa]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

Most likely, the joke's on you since you had no idea what it actually said. (And it would take a pro headline writer to get all that in one tattoo.)

Yes, I was wondering if this was full back piece or something equally unlikely for a Kanji type tattoo. The ones I have seen usually consist of a character or two.

[GenYus234]

I read the topic title and was expecting to see something similar to the taxi medallions that cabs in NYC have to have. I was wondering what part of the prostitute the medallion would be riveted to.

Now I haz a sad.

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by GenYus234

I read the topic title and was expecting to see something similar to the taxi medallions that cabs in NYC have to have. I was wondering what part of the prostitute the medallion would be riveted to.

Now I haz a sad.

Silly GenYus, the medallion is simply riveted to their bumper.

[Graham2001]

When I was much younger my father told me (On several occasions) that the Chinese (Or Japanese) characters on clothes sold in the West spelt out swear words and the like...

I can also remember reading in a Michael Palin travel book of him writing about seeing someone in Japan wearing a belt with the word "bull@#$%" hand stiched on it.

[Graham2001]

Another one from my father. He claimed to have been in a restaurant where a woman came in with large Chinese characters tattooed down her back. A waiter asked her what she thought they meant and she replied "Good Luck". He then explained they meant "Fried Rice"...