Japan is recognized as one of the most developed countries in the world. However, on the other hand, Japan is also famous for various absurd regulations that make no sense to its citizens. For example, recently, female students in Japan were forbidden to tie their hair in a ponytail.
The reason is that the ponytail hairstyle can show the nape clearly and it is feared that it can attract male students' sexual arousal.
"They [schools in Japan] are worried that male students will be [seduced] to see female students. The reason is similar to the reason that female students are only allowed to wear white underwear," said former high school teacher in Japan, Matoki Sugiyama to Vice.
Sugiyama himself always criticized these absurd rules. However, due to the lack of criticism that is considered normal, students have no choice but to accept it.
There is still no complete data on how many schools in Japan enforce a ban on ponytail hairstyles for female students. But a survey in 2020 showed that about 1 in 10 schools in Fukuoka had banned their students from styling their hair in a ponytail.
This rule sparked protests from parents of students. They urged the Japanese government to ask all education councils to revise school rules that are considered outdated and hinder a child's form of expression. However, not all schools follow this directive.
In fact, Sugiyama is still receiving complaints from students claiming their school will not relax dress code restrictions.
"Many schools ignore notices that are not legally binding," he said.
The ban on ponytail hairstyles is just one of the many absurd rules to be followed in Japan. From the length of the socks, the color of the underwear, the length of the skirt, to the shape of the eyebrows, Japanese schools are known for their strict requirements on what students are allowed to wear.
Regarding hair, students in Japan are also prohibited from dyeing their hair. Some schools even ask for proof from students if their hair is really black and naturally straight.
Often, the reasons behind the application of such a rule are arbitrary. For example, schools that prohibit ponytails often allow bob hairstyles. Even though the bob hairstyle also exposes the neck like a ponytail hairstyle.
But other times, it's ostensibly to prevent the domino effect of wild hairstyles. The undercut, a hairstyle that shaves the sides but leaves the top long, is also prohibited.
According to Vice, the strict regulations known as 'buraku kosoku' have their roots in the 1870s when the Japanese government first established the rules and education system. At that time, school regulations existed with the aim of reducing violence in schools. Over time, the rules began to vary between generations and schools.