^ Yup.
Also tatoos are a much bigger social taboo for most Japanese- because its so much associated with yakuza/crime. And its in visible spot - so that makes it a bigger deal than it might be for us. And in a relationship you DO need to talk over BIG deals imo - even if you are gonna do it anyways. It would feel like you didnt care imo to not do so.
Wow, I didn't know that about tatoos.