Job Discussion Forums

TRod · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

Hi, everyone. A friend of mine got hired by Nova and apparently the recruiter mentioned something about her hair which is in dreadlocks (or locks, as I prefer to call them). He/she said that my friend will have to keep it at the current length which is about to the chin, and compared her hairstyle with men saying "In Japan, men have to wear short hair." My friend is not a man, but female. Anyways, she's worried about what to do with her hair and how she can go about this situation. Does she have room for negotiation?

Thanks a bunch.

PS I also wear my hair in twists which is the impermament form of locks. Other eikawas didn't seem to have a problem with them....yet.

whatthefunk · Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 130 Location: Japan

japan is all about looks, especially NOVA. all NOVA teachers have to wear ties etc. its a company rule and if she wnats to work for the company, she should obey their rules, regardless of whether she approves.

TRod · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

I don't like to look at things so black and white. There is always a grey area.

whatthefunk · Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 130 Location: Japan

well, its fine that you dont like to look at things as being black and white, but im sure that her NOVA manager will prefer things to be black and white. her "locks" (as you like to call them) may very well pose some problems for her. anyway, she go hired, so they cant be that big of a deal...

TRod · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

Yeah, I agree.

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

It will probably depend on the individual decisions of the manager she ends up working under. But, even if they are fine with her having her hair like that, she should be prepared to get tons of questions about it from Japanese people, and garner a lot of attention. Personally, I have found that as foriengers we stick out so much in Japan that it can be wise to not go out of your way to stick out more. I guess the flip side of that is that we already stick out and there's nothing we can do about it, so we should just not worry about it and look however we want (as long as it flies at work). But it does make a difference.

When I got a Japanese haircut (got it straightened and cut in a Japan style) I was surprised to find out it helped people relax around me. Just because of my hair! I didn't do it to look Japanese, but it was a nice side effect. It also depends on where your friend is going to live, If you're in Tokyo, or Osaka, you'll see all kinds of people with every type of haircut imaginable, so you'll just be one more. But if you're in a small town, it will be a much bigger deal.

On the other hand, I have facial piercings and a tattoo you can see if I wear a skirt... and life goes on. People notice it, sure, but it's actually been the impetus for some interested dicussions about culture differences. I am not a teacher though. I think people get a lot more concerned about that sort of thing around children.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

10 years ago I flatted with a Nova teacher who had dreads, not particularly tidy ones either. She was a qualified, experienced primary school teacher, and maybe that caused them to overlook the dreads.

I ran into her about 5 years later- she had moved up to Nova head office, and had lost the dreads.