Job Discussion Forums

[ChotoHen]

Strange topic, yeah, but just wanted to see if anyone was working at a school that allowed facial hair. I know it's extremely rare as most eikaiwas want you to have that professional clean-cut look...but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

Im not sporting a Santa beard, but I also dont love to shave every 24.

[PAULH]

[JimDunlop2]

After a year-and-half of being squeekily clean-shaven, this summer I started to adopt the "grizzled old surfer" look.... Now I'm working on a nice, full Fu-manchu. I considered shaving before starting the new semester... But the kids (JHS) really like my new "hige" and even the "kyouyou-sensei" (vice principal) commented: "kakkoii!" (Cool!)

I guess it helps when you already have a mixed bag... We have an art teacher that wears John Lennon shades and has a goatee, a science teacher that looks like a Buddhist monk (with a shaved head) and other assorted anomalies.

It's really subjective... But even when I worked for an eikawa, one of my co-workers started a fantastic Fu- and even grew out his sideburns. Considering is a pretty tall and fairly well-built fellow with long hair to his shoulders, he looks quite menacing! But there were never any problems.

I must look menacing too with my facial hair when I wear my scullcap-style motorbike helmet, shades and wife-beater.
In fact, I don't think anyone has honked at me driving through trafic for quite some time now... Hmmm.....

[Gordon]

I have a goatee and mustache, but am at a university. They don't care too much, at least not after the hiring process.

[Brooks]

some people don`t like men to have facial hair, but where I work, it isn`t an issue.
One teacher goes from being clean cut to having a beard or goatee, depending on his mood. Sometimes he doesn`t shave for days, especially when he is busy with something, like exams.
My former boss has a beard and he told me that many Japanese don`t like men with facial hair, but he`s an administrator, so he does what he wants.

[Laura C]

My moustache has never been an issue.

L

[HontoBakari]

Not sure about the other big schools, but Nova (and I'd assume that Aeon and Geos would be the same) would expect you to be clean shaven every day. If you already have a moustache or beard, you're fine (as long as it looks tidy). But coming to work looking scruffy is simply not on. Business dress in Japan is more conservative than elsewhere, and first impressions (based almost solely on appearance) are even more essential than in the west. I'd say you'd better count on a regular shave.

[BradS]

I work at Nova, and we have a 40 year old US guy with a "santa". No problem at all. One of the other guys has a goatee and a few guys only shave every 3 days. No bif deal at all.