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Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Japan's World Barber Classic competition tries to bring back young male clients
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The event is part of a bid by Japan's struggling barber industry to attract young male clients lost in recent years to hair salons. TOKYO – Hundreds of rowdy spectators, many heavily tattooed, roared on July 14 at a Tokyo arena usually reserved for boxing – except the contestants were not athletes, but barbers. A dozen Japanese and foreign contestants were taking part in the World Barber Classic, showing off their hairdressing skills surrounded by national flags and the blare of hip-hop tunes. The event is part of a bid by Japan's struggling barber industry to attract young male clients lost in recent years to hair salons, which are popular for their high-quality services. A barber gives a model a haircut during the World Barber Classic at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on July 14. There are around 110,000 barber shops open in Japan. PHOTO: AFP 'In many countries, men getting their hair cut by barbers is an established culture', whereas in Japan, young men favour salons, competition organiser Sho Yokota said. 'What we're trying to achieve is to elevate a men's cut, or barbering, as a culture for men.' Popular culture in Japan driven by boy band idols and young male actors steers men towards longer coiffures instead of the shaved, cropped or slicked-back styles usually associated with barbers. A TV trend at the turn of the century, which made top hairdressers into fashion icons, also increased the popularity of salons over traditional barber shops. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Life 11 new entries on Singapore's Bib Gourmand list, including three re-entries at Old Airport Road Singapore Bicycle wheel-inspired care model used to improve trauma outcomes in central S'pore Singapore 15 under police probe for sharing Singpass credentials used in scams Singapore NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa beaches after elevated bacteria levels delay World Aquatics events Singapore Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it's time to raise the alarm There are around 110,000 barber shops open in Japan, but twice as many salons. Most Japanese barbers are elderly but a new generation has emerged, armed with social media savvy. Among them is contestant Shoma Sugimura, who made it to the final three of the competition. 'Our haircuts are often manly,' said the 29-year-old, whose neck and shaved head were covered in tattoos. South Korean barber 'V' gives a model a haircut during the World Barber Classic at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on July 14. PHOTO: AFP The competing barbers were tested on their self-expression, with each given a minute to woo the audience with a speech. Barbers in Japan are renowned for their skill, Mr Yokota said, but were often viewed as lacking showmanship. 'I think hair is more than just hair,' added judge Giancarlo Burgos, who is from Los Angeles. 'It's a way of communicating yourself, but also connecting people. It's a language that anybody can understand.' Japanese barber Takumasa Suzuki during a haircut demonstration at the World Barber Classic competition. PHOTO: AFP Another contestant, Mr Takumasa Suzuki, 32, said he was trying to emulate American barber culture to bring business back and keep the barber trade alive. 'In Japan, people just go for trendy haircuts', but in the racially diverse United States, 'they want their haircuts to encapsulate their own culture and heritage', he said. 'If barbershops in Japan can become a place where we can help customers express who they are, then I don't think we will vanish.' AFP
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Japan's World Barber Classic tries to bring back business
Hundreds of rowdy spectators, many heavily tattooed, roared Monday at a Tokyo arena usually reserved for boxing — except the contestants were not athletes, but barbers. A dozen Japanese and foreign contestants were taking part in the World Barber Classic at Korakuen Hall, showing off their hairdressing skills surrounded by national flags and the blare of hip-hop tunes. The event is part of a bid by Japan's struggling barber industry to attract young male clients lost in recent years to hair salons, which are popular for their high-quality services. "In many countries, men getting their hair cut by barbers is an established culture," whereas in Japan young men favor salons, competition organizer Sho Yokota said. "What we're trying to achieve is to elevate a men's cut, or barbering, as a culture for men." Popular culture in Japan driven by boy-band idols and young male actors steers men towards longer coiffures instead of the shaved, cropped or slicked-back styles usually associated with barbers. A TV trend at the turn of the century which made top hairdressers into fashion icons also increased the popularity of salons over traditional barber shops. There are around 110,000 barber shops currently open in Japan, but twice as many salons. Most Japanese barbers are elderly but a new generation has emerged, armed with social media savvy. Among them is contestant Shoma Sugimura, who made it to the final three on Monday. "Our haircuts are often manly," said the 29-year-old, whose neck and shaved head were covered in tattoos. The competing barbers were tested on their self-expression Monday, with each given a minute to woo the audience with a speech. Barbers in Japan are renowned for their skill, organizer Yokota said, but were often viewed as lacking showmanship. "I think hair is more than just hair," said judge Giancarlo Burgos, from Los Angeles. "It's a way of communicating yourself, but also connecting people. It's a language that anybody can understand." Another contestant, 32-year-old Takumasa Suzuki, said he was trying to emulate American barber culture to bring business back and keep the barber trade alive. "In Japan, people just go for trendy haircuts," but in the racially diverse United States, "they want their haircuts to encapsulate their own culture and heritage," he said. "If barbershops in Japan can become a place where we can help customers express who they are, then I don't think we will vanish."
France 24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Japan's World Barber Classic tries to bring back business
A dozen Japanese and foreign contestants were taking part in the World Barber Classic, showing off their hairdressing skills surrounded by national flags and the blare of hip-hop tunes. The event is part of a bid by Japan's struggling barber industry to attract young male clients lost in recent years to hair salons, which are popular for their high-quality services. "In many countries, men getting their hair cut by barbers is an established culture," whereas in Japan young men favour salons, competition organiser Sho Yokota told AFP. "What we're trying to achieve is to elevate a men's cut, or barbering, as a culture for men." Popular culture in Japan driven by boy-band idols and young male actors steers men towards longer coiffures instead of the shaved, cropped or slicked-back styles usually associated with barbers. A TV trend at the turn of the century which made top hairdressers into fashion icons also increased the popularity of salons over traditional barber shops. There are around 110,000 barber shops currently open in Japan, but twice as many salons. Most Japanese barbers are elderly but a new generation has emerged, armed with social media savvy. Among them is contestant Shoma Sugimura, who made it to the final three on Monday. "Our haircuts are often manly," the 29-year-old, whose neck and shaved head were covered in tattoos, told AFP. The competing barbers were tested on their self-expression Monday, with each given a minute to woo the audience with a speech. Barbers in Japan are renowned for their skill, organiser Yokota said, but were often viewed as lacking showmanship. "I think hair is more than just hair," judge Giancarlo Burgos, from Los Angeles, told AFP. "It's a way of communicating yourself, but also connecting people. It's a language that anybody can understand." Another contestant Takumasa Suzuki, 32, told AFP he was trying to emulate American barber culture to bring business back and keep the barber trade alive. "In Japan, people just go for trendy haircuts," but in the racially diverse United States, "they want their haircuts to encapsulate their own culture and heritage," he said. "If barbershops in Japan can become a place where we can help customers express who they are, then I don't think we will vanish." © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Japan's World Barber Classic Tries To Bring Back Business
Hundreds of rowdy spectators, many heavily tattooed, roared Monday at a Tokyo arena usually reserved for boxing -- except the contestants were not athletes, but barbers. A dozen Japanese and foreign contestants were taking part in the World Barber Classic, showing off their hairdressing skills surrounded by national flags and the blare of hip-hop tunes. The event is part of a bid by Japan's struggling barber industry to attract young male clients lost in recent years to hair salons, which are popular for their high-quality services. "In many countries, men getting their hair cut by barbers is an established culture," whereas in Japan young men favour salons, competition organiser Sho Yokota told AFP. "What we're trying to achieve is to elevate a men's cut, or barbering, as a culture for men." Popular culture in Japan driven by boy-band idols and young male actors steers men towards longer coiffures instead of the shaved, cropped or slicked-back styles usually associated with barbers. A TV trend at the turn of the century which made top hairdressers into fashion icons also increased the popularity of salons over traditional barber shops. There are around 110,000 barber shops currently open in Japan, but twice as many salons. Most Japanese barbers are elderly but a new generation has emerged, armed with social media savvy. Among them is contestant Shoma Sugimura, who made it to the final three on Monday. "Our haircuts are often manly," the 29-year-old, whose neck and shaved head were covered in tattoos, told AFP. The competing barbers were tested on their self-expression Monday, with each given a minute to woo the audience with a speech. Barbers in Japan are renowned for their skill, organiser Yokota said, but were often viewed as lacking showmanship. "I think hair is more than just hair," judge Giancarlo Burgos, from Los Angeles, told AFP. "It's a way of communicating yourself, but also connecting people. It's a language that anybody can understand." Another contestant Takumasa Suzuki, 32, told AFP he was trying to emulate American barber culture to bring business back and keep the barber trade alive. "In Japan, people just go for trendy haircuts," but in the racially diverse United States, "they want their haircuts to encapsulate their own culture and heritage," he said. "If barbershops in Japan can become a place where we can help customers express who they are, then I don't think we will vanish." Barbers react after competing in the World Barber Classic in Tokyo, part of a bid to bring back young male clients to shops AFP Popular culture in Japan driven by boy-band idols and young male actors steers men towards longer coiffures instead of barber styles AFP
