Samurai Changes In Japanese Culture

For many generations, hair has been an indicator of societal status in Japanese culture. To cut off one’s hair is to indicate a change in either that societal status, or in one’s personal life. This tradition has persisted over the years, from the ancient samurai all the way to today’s modern anime. In Ancient Japan, the samurai acted as the military force of the country. Samurai were high on the political ladder, and “by the late 12th century, samurai lords ruled both the provinces and central Japan” (DeSnoo). This status led to them being highly respected by other citizens of the country. However, if a samurai wished to leave the organization, a physical change needed to occur. The samurai “would cut off his top knot and undergo a dramatic decline in social status” (Sensei). This was the original occurrence of hair cutting being used as a symbol of change in Japanese culture. …show more content…
When a woman cuts off her hair in an anime, it indicates a change in her resolve. In the anime adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is portrayed as a vigilante fighting for the people of Verona. When she is in her vigilante persona, the Red Whirlwind, she keeps her hair up in order to disguise herself. After her heroic outings, she lets her hair back down. The changes in her hairstyle directly correlate to her two personas. In a scene later on in the show where Juliet nearly cuts her hair off while tempering herself for the coming battles. While cutting hair may seem like nothing but a trope in today’s anime, the act has its roots in the samurai culture. Cutting hair represents change in status or change in the person themselves, and will continue to be represented for many generations to