Apparently, beards are not popular in Japan, sometimes not even mustaches. Have you ever wondered why Japanese people do not have or do not use beards? Is it because they do not grow much hair? Or do they consider it a lack of hygiene? In this article, I will try to explain everything about beards in Japan.
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beard in japan
In Japan, they use the word hige [髭] to refer to facial hair, whether it is a beard or mustache. You can specify if it's a beard or mustache by stating the location before hige. Not even the Japanese language seems to like beards, since the pronunciation hige is also used in the word self-deprecation [卑下].
By nature, Japanese people typically do not grow much body hair, so much so that there are men who have never needed to shave. Despite Japanese women not caring about pubic hair removal, some consider it a lack of hygiene for men to have beards.
Another thing that makes it difficult for men to wear a beard in Japan is the law of many Japanese companies that do not allow the use of beards and the population does not seem interested in fighting this. The fact is that the beard is not considered popular or attractive in Japan, and it can cause a violent and rebellious image.
The history of the beard in Japan
In the past, the beard was seen in Japan as a symbol of power, especially among samurai who wanted to look serious and dangerous. Some samurai even wore fake beards to make a good impression. This is exactly what resulted in the beard's unpopularity.
The hige (barb) represented the fighting spirit of a samurai; when the country became a civil government, having a beard meant rebelling against this government. Thus, many samurais of the time shaved their beards, and some made a knot or bun at the back of their heads.
Discrimination increased when they started using the word ketou [毛唐] to refer to foreigners. The Ainu people were also known for having mustaches, and other high-ranking individuals after the Meiji era also wore mustaches and beards and even stood out for that. Until the last century, it was not uncommon to find men with beards.
How is the beard viewed in Japan today?
Some famous people wear beards like the contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, Hayao Miyazaki, Hideo Kojima, Sailor Fuku Ojisan [Hideaki Kobayashi], Yamada Takayuki, and Jumpei Yasuda. Young people usually do not wear beards because girls do not like that style, they prefer a cute face, the standard of male beauty in Japan.
I can say with certainty that there are no negative stigmas regarding beards. Even the Japanese have played with using azuki beans to shave fake beards. The truth is that many Japanese who manage to have a beard, it is because they are descendants of the Ainu or are in their old age and decided not to shave their faces.
Nowadays it is also not rare or wrong to find men with beards, it's just not popular for the simple fact that Japanese genetics doesn't provide a beautiful beard in most people these days. It is also very common to have laser hair removal, which reduces the chances of a Japanese thinking about growing a beard.
These are just aspects of Japanese culture, there is no beard ban in Japan. Even in Brazil the beard is not as popular as in Europe. What's strange is knowing that Japan is a cold country, and beards could warm men's faces. What do you think about this matter?
