Job Discussion Forums

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Very generally speaking, how would Japanese students, parents and school administrators possibly react to a Western male teacher with a shaved head? Would a lack of a coiffure be looked down upon and seen as "contra-conservative appearance?"

Cheers in advance.

fat_chris

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

I wouldn`t worry. I have seen male foreigner `skinhead` teachers and it all comes down to your demeanour. If you are friendly, approachable and suitably dressed, a shaved head will make no difference to your acceptability as a teacher.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Chris, they may not like your tattooed head and big hoop nose rings, but a shaved head is OK here. Wink

nihontone · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 21 Location: Kobe

Chris,

I've been in Japan for nearly 5 years and have always had a shaved head and never had any negative experiences. Except of course for the obvious cold head problem in winter. But get yourself a nice soft warm hat and "Bob's ya muvva's bruvva"!

CHEERS
NIHONTONE Mr. Green

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 11:47 am Post subject:

Hey FattyC

Well, about the shaved head, my friend says he's never had a problem in Japan with a skinhead. But on the side of contra-conservative appearances, I had a few comments about my long blonde hair, and not all good...

LA

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Thanks all. I know the two countries can't be compared but the only people in China with shaved heads were prisoners off to Qinghai or a bullet in the back of the neck...or foreigners. I always wanted my head shaved in China, but the barber would never do it. I just wanted to see what attitudes in Japan regarding this are.

Lanza-Armonia, I like that name.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

my nickname used to be skin.
It used to be an issue, but the kids are taught that not everybody looks the same. Some people are are bald.

As my boss says, the bald teachers are more powerful, so being bald is a positive thing.

But I get more respect than the English teacher who wears a toupe.
You see, I am bald, so I decided to go totally bald. I am not ashamed of it.

Now I am burookusoo or sensei. I prefer that to skin.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Most of those who posted before me are probably right... However I WILL tell you that we had one fellow apply at our school with a shaved head, and he was denied employment SOLELY on that and that alone...

Having said that, I concur -- it's not likely to be an issue -- just appear otherwise well-groomed and smart.

JD

Belmont · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:25 am Post subject: baldness

How do the Japanese males handle baldness? As I'm reading here, they don't do the shaved head head thing to hide it. Do they get toupes?

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Comb-over

Belmont · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:12 am Post subject: comb over!

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the joke is that men that comb over their hair have hair like bar codes

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the joke is that men that comb over their hair have hair like bar codes

Belmont · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 1:49 am Post subject: comb overs

Too funny! They can scan their heads at the airport maybe?

The funniest comb-over I ever witnessed was on a Pakistani teacher at KSU in Saudi Arabia. The comb over was draped over the front part of his head and then wrapped around the stem of his glasses to anchor it. It was pretty windy at times so this was a great way to keep things in place. Laughing

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

Not just the men either.