British soccer fans traveling to Japan for the World Cup soccer finals have been issued with guidance from the British Foreign Office on how not to offend their hosts.
The Foreign Office on Friday posted its "World Cup Advice" on its Web site -- www.fco.gov.uk/travel -- with regular travel tips as well as advice to the usually boisterous British soccer fans on how to behave in Japan.
The Foreign Office says "loud or boisterous behavior in public" is less acceptable in Japan than it is in Britain. Soccer fans were told to consider how they dress and appear so as not to offend the Japanese public.
The Foreign Office guide says: "Do be aware that tattoos may cause offense. In Japanese culture tattoos are associated with criminals, so if you have tattoos do what you can to keep them out of sight."