I have to tell a story here. Can't hold it back.
Missionary Dave was planning a children's evangelistic meeting down in Tokyo back in the day before anyone but yakuza had tattoos. Unfortunately, he couldn't get the Japanese man to rent him the hall he wanted to hold the meetings in.
Dave asked Dick, my friend with the navy tattoo, to go with him the next time. Dick did not yet know Japanese, so he wondered what this was all about. Dave coached him, "Roll your sleeve up, and when I get the word, rest your arm on the counter."
Sure enough, the owner of the hall turned Dave down again, whereupon Dave gave his signal and Dick rested his arm on the counter. The Japanese man gave a gasp, and immediately rented the hall to Dave. Such is the power of a presumed yakuza tattoo in Japan! :laugh: