Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

If you’ve ever seen an episode of Dragon Ball Z you’ll know what I mean when I say “gravity-defying hair.” Fluttering against the wind, Goku’s golden locks pack as much punch as his iron fist.

So take Goku and multiply him by about 3 million and there you’ll have the young male population of Japan. Unlike in the U.S., guys aren’t afraid of moussing up their mane at the risk of looking girly. Wax, gel, spray, bleach — hair products of all kind sell big. In fact, not using them is a telling sign that you don’t care about presentation. Perhaps you’re an otaku (geek) whose only friends are online, or maybe you’re the dreaded hikikomori (isolationist) who never ever leaves his room. Not even to pee. Either way, you’re not getting chicks. …Well, unless you’re Densha Otoko.

And if Japan were to elect a fashion muse it would be boy-band member Takuya Kimura (Kimu-Taku for short). The smoking hot singer may be past his youthful prime (he’s 35; most boy-bands still can’t grow facial hair), people still look to him for what’s in vogue. When I was living in Japan, guys would catch him on TV then go out and get his ‘do. So everywhere I went I’d see Kimu-Taku clones struttin’ their stuff around like they ‘da man. They were all so cute, like collectible toys.

Kimu-Taku does well for himself just on selling hair products alone. Recently, you can find him in commercials (called “CM” in Japanese) promoting Gatsby hair products:

He does a whole series of CMs all of which are just as cheesy, glamorous and ultra flaming. One thing for sure, Japan has ventured a long way from its macho-man Samurai roots. Tokugawa Ieyasu must be turning in his grave. Personally I think it’s pretty cool. Just think, in a few more years you’re gonna start losing your hair anyway. So why not have fun with it while it’s there? (^_^)/

Himawari

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