Rising political star and otherwise very popular Mayor Toru Hashimoto told reporters that surveying 34.000 employees about the tattoo was "necessary for human resource management."
"He who ignores the legitimate request of his superior is not considered for promotion," he explained.
In Japan, tattoos are associated with the yakuza, the Japanese mafia, so many popular public baths and sports halls generally refuse tattooed clients.
Most of the employees filled out the survey, and 110 of them, mostly cleaning workers, admitted to having tattoos, while 500 employees refused to answer the survey question.
Hashimoto, who worked in television before entering politics, has consistently explained that neither American singer Lady Gaga nor Hollywood actor Johnny Depp would have a chance at a job in his city government because they are both tattooed.
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