Ichimon Japan Podcasts

Why did samurai have such weird haircuts? (All About Topknots/Chommage) | Ichimon Japan 34

By Tony R. Vega

Posted on February 7, 2021

10 min read

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Left side features text reading "excellence of the hairstyle." The right side has an iillustration of a handsome male character drawn in an anime style. He is wearing a fashinable suit and posing with his hands in his pockets looking down. His hair is done in a chonmage or typical samurai topknot with the hair tied up and the front of his head shaven. The pose is reminiscent of a fashion model.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why did samurai have such weird haircuts?

Topics Discussed

What a chonmage is
The Japanese people’s pursuit of excellence of the hairstyle
The historical origins of the topknots in Japan
Hats and their connection to the topknot
The supposed reason why samurai started using topknots and shaving the front of their heads
The chonmage as a status symbol during the Edo Period
The most well-known types of chonmage
What an ichōmage is
What a hondamage is
What the sōhatsu style topknot looked like
What a chasenmage/chasengami is
The supposed etymology of the term chonmage
An article stating that some men would pluck their hair and cause themselves to bleed
A theory about chonmage as a way to hide baldness
The Sanpatsudattōurei (散髪脱刀令) declaration of 1871
The Meiji government’s efforts to have men cut off their topknots and stop carrying swords
How Iwakura Tomomi cut his hair in Chicago
What a zangiriatama is
The chonmage in modern times in Japan
The use of chonmage by sumo wrestlers
About tokoyama (床山), the hairstylists of sumo wrestlers
How two top ranked tokoyama became tokoyama
How much money a tokoyama might earn
Topknots in modern day kabuki
Whether there are any people in modern day Japan outside of sumo that wear their hair in the chonmage (topknot) style
The TV personality Magehira
The time consuming process it takes to get your hair in a proper chonmage
What a danpatsushiki (散髪式) is (sumo hair cutting ceremony)
Kisenosato’s danpatsushiki
And much more!

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Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

Here are some of the English-language sources used for this article.

Which One is the Most Handsome!? Four Chonmage to Choose
- This article has some very useful illustrations of the four types of topknots that were discussed in this episode. This is also the article that features the “excellence of the hairstyle” quote.
How to tie Chonmage (Samurai Top Knot・Samurai hair)
- This is a Japanese video but there is no spoken dialog.
Sumo 101: Tokoyama (Hairdressers)
The Sumo Top Knot Is the Original Man Bun

Here are some of the main Japanese-language sources used for this episode.

The video below focuses on the hats worn by men in Japan (eboshi and kanmuri) throughout much of the 1000 years or so prior to the Edo Period and their connection to the topknot hair style. This is the video which states that it used to be that walking around outside without a hat on in Japan was like walking around outside without pants on today.

Here is a video showing tokyamas (hairdessers for sumo wrestlers) and tokoyamas in training during an educational conference.

Here is the video that was mentioned in this episode of a tokoyama doing a live demonstration of how he prepares a sumo wrestler’s hair.

Here is the video of Kisenosato’s danpatsushiki (topknot cutting ceremony conducted when a sumo wrestler retires).

The video below shows how a kabuki actor would put on a fake chonmage.

Here is the video of the Japanese TV personality Magehira talking to other Japanese guys who also have topknots.

In the video below Magehira meets someone in Tokyo near Sensoji Temple who also has his hair in a chonmage.

Here’s a video of a retired sumo wrestler showing the process he goes through to put his hair into a chonmage by himself.

The video below is a segment from a Japanese TV show. In this recurring segment men volunteer to have a professional give them a chonmage.

Here’s a video about Tatsuo Hisae, a taxi driver in Kyoto who wears his hair in a chonmage/topknot.

Here’s a fun children’s song about chonmage.

To listen to the latest episode of Japan Station check out the link below.

Trapped in Japan: A Chat w. Kevin O’Shea of the Just Japan Podcast | Japan Station 58

If you’re interested in getting the t-shirt inspired by this episode, then make sure to go to KimitoDesigns.com.

MAGE: The Excellent Hairstyle of the Samurai Unisex T-Shirt

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC.

Mage
- 髷【まげ】 (n) bun (hairstyle); chignon; topknot
Chonmage
- 丁髷【ちょんまげ】 (n) (uk) topknot (hair style)

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We’re always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.