FOCUS: High School Judo in Japan Starts Moving Away from Buzz Cuts

Osaka, Sept. 1 (Jiji Press)–A hairstyle revolution appears to be brewing in high school judo clubs across Japan, with some athletes trading their traditional buzz cuts for longer styles trimmed at beauty salons. The initiative is part of the Extracurricular Club Activity Hair Salon project, undertaken by cosmetics maker Mandom Corp. in collaboration with high school students nationwide. By fostering an atmosphere in which individuality can flourish, the project aims to reinvigorate the world of judo, where the number of competitors continues to decline. Ideal Self Mandom, based in Osaka, western Japan, launched its “What Do You Think about Club Hairstyles?” initiative in 2023 under the slogan “Become What You Want to Be in Full Scale,” supporting high school students in balancing self-expression with their extracurricular activities. The company has since held hair salon programs at 33 schools, covering about 15 sports and related activities, including soccer, rugby and marching band. At the events, students take part in workshops in which they write down the names of athletes they admire and describe their ideal self-image–an exercise designed to help them clarify the kind of individual they want to be. The program encourages students to consider the hairstyle they want and to explain their choice in their own words. An official at Mandom suggested that many students either give up on joining clubs or leave them after joining because of hairstyle rules that persist as unwritten norms. “It’s important for students to choose their own hairstyle and have their own reasons for that choice,” the official said. Working in partnership with the judo department of the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, the company held its first Extracurricular Club Activity Hair Salon program for a high school judo team in July last year, at Takagawa Gakuen in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan. Club members were given the opportunity to try new hairstyles. The project has drawn positive feedback, with participants reporting that their “performance improved” and that they “felt more positive,” according to company officials. Powerhouse Schools In May this year, 35 members of the judo club at Tenri High School–a judo powerhouse in Nara Prefecture, western Japan–took part in the Extracurricular Club Activity Hair Salon program. According to Kaito Ikeda, a teacher and coach of the judo club, the school has no explicit rule requiring students to wear buzz cuts. Even so, as there had long been “a widespread atmosphere in which students felt they had to have buzz cuts,” new members tend to join the club with their hair already cropped short, he said. “A buzz cut does not mean someone is serious, nor does one’s hairstyle affect athletic ability,” Ikeda told the club members who attended the program. “I want you to value your individuality and maintain a broad perspective, both in judo and in everyday life.” Fifteen of the members stepped forward to get haircuts at a nearby beauty salon. Daisuke Takahashi, a third-year student and captain of the club, said with a smile: “It feels like a fresh start, and my mind feels clear. I want to show an even stronger Tenri team with our new hairstyles.” Reflecting on the experience, Ikeda said, “They are brimming with confidence, so I’m glad we did it.” He added that he hopes it will serve as a catalyst for wider change in the judo world. Hopes for Newcomers According to the All Japan Judo Federation, the number of high school members stood at about 16,700 in fiscal 2025, down a steep 40 pct from 20 years earlier. Atsushi Kodama, head of the judo department of the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, expressed a sense of crisis. “We do not know the cause, but the number of children who continue with judo is declining,” he said. The judo world has long handed down a “buzz cut culture.” Kodama has seen a number of athletes who felt resistant to closely cropped hair and left the sport, or who chose to continue judo while steering clear of powerhouse schools that required buzz cuts. Over time, he said, he has come to think, “Perhaps judo does not necessarily have to come with a buzz cut.” The Extracurricular Club Activity Hair Salon program has also been held at the judo club of Josho Gakuen in Osaka Prefecture, where Kodama serves as an adviser. It was well received by the students who took part, he said. Kodama added that he hopes moving away from buzz cuts will “encourage younger students to think, ‘I want to try judo.'” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]