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Tokyo high schools ask students to certify hair color not altered: NHK

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The future drones must be brainwashed and made to fear the rules...

36 ( +46 / -10 )

Tokyo's board of education told NHK that the hair certificates are not compulsory. 

Not compulsory, but likely beneficial to any high school student who might not want to appear troublesome and who may eventually need the cooperation of the school administration/teachers to get into a good university.

27 ( +32 / -5 )

“The nail that stands up must be hammered down!”

33 ( +37 / -4 )

What bs, having to "certify" your hair isnt dyed. I am ever so glad that my own kids are past the age of this!

22 ( +26 / -4 )

“The nail that stands up must be hammered down!”

"Hammers" CAN be destroyed!

17 ( +21 / -4 )

I can't wait until my kids are required to do this! They are half American and Half Japanese. They have light brown hair. We will be slapping the school with a lawsuit for racial discrimination once they ask for this. If they are not asking ALL students to certify this, then that is discrimination. Already have done my research and found a good lawyer. I will be the sole person that changes this...watch...

37 ( +51 / -14 )

I love Japan, but this is not a good country to raise children, especially if female. Too much unnecessary stress for children, too much unnecessary competition……the juku….many insane rules (such as the abovementioned hair-related one)…….and really really really too much gender gap.

Children have to enjoy school time and their young age.

I am glad that we will raise our newborn daughter in Florence and that my wife (Japanese) proposed the plan.

Italy and Europe have many problems, no country is perfect, but my daughter will be able to enjoy a freer childhood and adolescence and will be able to become a more independent woman.

We will come back to Japan after retirement.

41 ( +44 / -3 )

Tokyo high schools ask students to certify hair color not altered: NHK

If what NHK reports is true, I personally think that this is highly dangerous.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

@elvis-is-here

Someone has to stand up..If everyone always just goes along with the crowd there will never be any change. I am willing to stand tall and be that change.

34 ( +35 / -1 )

If only the education authorities put as much effort into eradicating bullying ...

36 ( +36 / -0 )

@Ricky Sanchez

I wish it's not only the gaijin that stands up to these ridiculous rules and laws. But thanks anyway for your service :)

23 ( +23 / -0 )

Some schools have rules which they think are important to uphold social order. One of these is usually No dyeing hair. There are some students who for reasons of fashion wish to change their hair color and then insist that it is natural. School, who knows it isn't, says bring a certificate.

Students and parents should read the rules and regulations of the school BEFORE applying. If they are not to your liking apply elsewhere.

-31 ( +3 / -34 )

Can’t help but see the words “*submit”, “confirm”, “certify*”, etc. yet, when pressed, the *BOE admits it’s not compulsory *and “certificates’ aren’t required.

Looks like half the schools are still controlled by ‘the ‘Old Guard’ of Japanese education’;

continuing to repress the younger staff and students again, failing to keep up with the rest of the world.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Infringement of privacy

The national sport of Japan...

18 ( +18 / -0 )

If that's the case, it's not fair that teachers can dye their hair...

15 ( +16 / -1 )

“...Not artificially altered” - How? a DNA test?

“...provide a certificate” - By whom? A geneticist? Their ‘hair stylist’.

What kind of ‘certificate’ and “Who’s hanko?” will do? - A doctor and a nurse cross-checking body hair?

What’s the cost for all this and, who pays?

15 ( +15 / -0 )

The Osaka District Court ruling against a former high school student last week shows this is still a nationwide issue. It’s not just dyed hair that’s forbidden: Many of Japan’s high school districts won’t allow girls to have permed hair or braided extensions. They can also dictate a girl’s hair length.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Correction: Forcing hair to be dyed, not forbidden to be dyed. I have a naturally brown-haired Japanese stepchild who will have to contend with this issue in a few years, so it’s personal.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

The Osaka District Court doesn’t make it nationwide. Most people in throughout the country have a variety of ‘natural’ hair.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Petty rule-crazed bureaucrats with too much time on their hands.

Why not try updating your internet infrastructure from no wi-fi and Windows XP and investing into evolving into digital means of education that will be safer for students and teachers. The pandemic gives you the perfect rationale and instead you waste your time on this.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

High school teachers ought to have more important things to do with their time than checking students’ hair color. I can’t believe this is happening in the 21st-century Japan.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

My son is at university now.

He has lighter hair than most.However, one interesting point to note is that the first thing that many first year university students do,is to change their hair color into a lurid yellow or pink etc.

My son being more conservative than that but still wanting to fit in decided to have grey streaks put in lol...

12 ( +12 / -0 )

In this country there is way too much energy spent and way too much crap given to others over pointless trivialities.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

There is a big difference between forcing someone with natural brown hair to dye it black and not allowing someone with black hair to dye it brown. First one wrong, second one, rather pointless but up to the school. Don't like it? Go elsewhere!

-20 ( +2 / -22 )

Expecting every kid to look the same is racist and completely unacceptable.

It is extra ludicrous because schools with supposed "no dying" policies end up forcing kids whose hair isn't black to dye it.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Pathetic. What next? Sacrifice them when they come of age? Deplete the dying 'dynasty' of Japanese purity?

Pathetic.

Children of Japan, it's time to rebel.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What's wrong with a Japanese girl with blond hair?

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Earth to Japan......WHY cant you let your children just be CHILDREN!!!!!

Man I would have HATED to grow up in Japan.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Relax.

All the students have to do is submit a personal affirmation that they did not dye their hair.

To what end or purpose? All in all they're just another brick in the wall.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Welcome to the 21st century !

And this country talks about diversity. This should start at school.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@Ricky Sanchez

I can't wait until my kids are required to do this! 

Same here.

I am in the same situation.

If the school requires this from my son, I will start the biggest mess this school has ever seen.

But I guess the school will not require that from my son, because it is clear that his father is a foreigner and his hair color is natural.

*
4 ( +8 / -4 )

snowymountainhellToday  08:00 am JST

“...Not artificially altered” - How? a DNA test?

“...provide a certificate” - By whom? A geneticist? Their ‘hair stylist’.

What kind of ‘certificate’ and “Who’s hanko?” will do? - A doctor and a nurse cross-checking body hair?

What’s the cost for all this and, who pays?

Article says:

Of 177 high schools run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 79 ask for these certificates signed by parents .........

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What's wrong with a Japanese girl with blond hair?

Absolutely nothing, because Japanese is a nationality. This is the point that needs to be hammered.

Physical features and a name like Smith or Rodriguez or Patel or Nyugen or Lee do not stop anyone being Japanese.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

The first thing my wife did when finishing high school was to throw and burn her uniform. She wanted to get away of all that conformism, like many here...

11 ( +11 / -0 )

My daughter has curly hair (my side) but till now her school (junior high school) is not having issues. I'm worried for next year when she goes to high school. But i would do anything to keep my daughter for how she is.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

If a government can spend so much energy in making sure students’ hair is not altered, should it not also spend the same energy making sure nobody is homeless and hungry? Ah, it only works when they do not spend money and are not held accountable.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

No wonder the structure and practice of Japanese education characterized by the regimentation of pupils to produce serried ranks of obedient, unthinking children creates much of the disfunctionality of so many individuals who suffer from various forms of arrested development. As George Bush Jr once opined,"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?"

No Sensei, they isn't, but BHM (Black Hair Matters), desu ne?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"Earth to Japan......WHY cant you let your children just be CHILDREN!!!!!

Man I would have HATED to grow up in Japan."

Really? I grew up in Japan and I love the fact that I did.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

My kids are half Japanese and they give them any crap. Lawyers will be at the door.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

do these schools need to get their heads and brains certified as well?

9 ( +9 / -0 )

i thought majority of Japanese don’t like there naturally black hair so they dye it dark brown.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Ricky SanchezToday  07:28 am JST

I can't wait until my kids are required to do this! They are half American and Half Japanese. They have light brown hair. We will be slapping the school with a lawsuit for racial discrimination once they ask for this. If they are not asking ALL students to certify this, then that is discrimination. Already have done my research and found a good lawyer. I will be the sole person that changes this...watch...

I will join you on that! My daughter is half Japanese half white, and her natural hair colour is brown. The moment that any schools try and discriminate against her, my wife and I will give them hell on earth!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@richard sanchez and others.

Agree with you entirely. But note you won't be able to make a lawsuit against the school as there is no law in Japan making racial discrimination illegal. It's a systemic social flaw, not just an issue with schools themselves.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

YubaruToday  07:17 am JST

What bs, having to "certify" your hair isnt dyed. I am ever so glad that my own kids are past the age of this!

Don't these idiot 'leaders' and 'teachers' have better things to be doing than worrying about this chicken crap?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Burning BushToday  10:48 am JST

"To what end or purpose? All in all they're just another brick in the wall."

To discourage children from damaging their natural hair with harmful chemical dyes.

That's parents' responsibility. What business is it of teachers?

11 ( +11 / -0 )

With all that crazy administrative measures they hopefully find some minutes left to teach a little something of what those schools are usually meant for. lol

7 ( +7 / -0 )

waste of time

7 ( +7 / -0 )

shogun36Today  01:07 pm JST

waste of time

Say 'please'. Say 'pretty please'. Ahh hell, don't waste your time with these stupid nit-pickers and naggers. There's more important things in life to be concerned with than this trivial crap. Be yourselves.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

My good family friend, Japanese, have an albino daughter. They have not been told she must dye her hair, but it has been suggested.

Makes wonder about eye color, contacts, and even eye glasses’ frames.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Been there done that.

With My eldest, the girl.

Sent back a note in English only just to annoy them, with just 2 words on it. The first started with the 6th letter of the alphabet the second with the 25th letter.

They got the point so well no school ever asked again for her or my son.

Yes crude but effective.

Learned early on trying to be polite or using reason doesn't work.

Tried that with the sunblock as my children have my skin and burn in a matter of minutes.

School kept going on about no make-up had to get a doctor friend to come to the school and try to explain it.

The next year it started all over again.

So finished being patient and polite and raising my voice to the level the whole neighbourhood could hear got the point across. Never came up again.

With the schools dinosaur directors reason doesn't work.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

If they are not asking ALL students to certify this, then that is discrimination.

What's the point of asking the black haired students to certify? Since we are in Japan, it's very likely to be their natural color. Further, even if the hair is dyed, it is blending in, which is a choice that people should be allowed to make. Black is an indisputedably acceptable color in Japan, so there are no public interest or children interest grounds.

Anti-discrimination doesn't mean making those who clearly don't need to do work to do it just for the sake of "equity".

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

@bokuda

Actually that was an issue in jr high for my daughter.

They had a problem with her large chest.

I nearly jumped over the director's desk when they started suggesting strapping them or buying extra large shirts and jacket.

Lucky for me I brought a very large Japanese friend with my who retrained me.

Brought him originally as a witness as I found the word of a Gaijin was worthless in any eventual follow-up.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

I remember one of my old colleagues telling me his sister came home crying because she was told to straighten her hair. My colleague (and presumably his sister) have very wavy hair and they are 100% wajin. He even has that Japanese nose. My eyes roll when I see so many people dye their hair, especially blonde, but there are many East Asians who do not have very dark hair or completely straight hair and they, along with biracial kids should be allowed to go au naturel. I'd like to see them try this crap with Osaka Naomi. Where are you, Naomi?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Tokyo's board of education told NHK that the hair certificates are not compulsory. But the broadcaster said only five of the 79 schools make it clear in writing that students aren't required to submit them.

Kudos to JCP for exposing this moronic, reductionist, domineering overreach.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

If only it stopped at the school level.

My daughter was told at a job fair at University by a company recruiter that perms and coloured hair was not permitted so if she wanted to apply she would need proof her hair was natural.

Her reply was done at a level everyone could hear.

She said loudly so do you have to provide proof that your hair is natural and not a comb over? Everyone laughed and he left very quickly.

Yeah the men in our family learn early on not to mess with the women of our family.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

But note you won't be able to make a lawsuit against the school as there is no law in Japan making racial discrimination illegal

Actually yes and no, as applied to all, no as applied to Japanese citizens, yes there are laws against discrimination for many things, if the person is a Japanese national they can file a lawsuit for discrimination.

Ainu have many times, as have those formerly known as Burakumin, those with disabilities, etc... But this only applies to Japanese Nationals.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

These old codgers,mostly Nippon Kaigi members wishing it was the 1930s again,keep coming up with these revisionist rules while at the same time bleeding the country dry with their lavish spending on their cronies and wining and dining at places we couldn't even enter.

It is time the electorate stood up to this outlandish situation.

Doubt they will though.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

My daughters were never asked, ever.

Just seemed like common sense knowing the father has naturally reddish brown hair.

One friend here in my city had to sign a form for both son & daughter that their not-jet-black hair was natural.

Different schools, Different approaches.

However my youngest needed an official explanation to wear sun cream/block.

And also to wear a "rash-guard neck to knee" swimsuit to cut UV.

When explained the school agreed because "Oh it's for medical reasons".

No - it's just common sense, but I didn't argue the point. My daughter told me years later that her friends felt sorry for here because she had a medical condition.

Things are slowly changing.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@browny1

If only it was true that things are changing.

Both my children graduated university last year ( one did her master's).

Both had problems applying for jobs constant is your hair natural to you have proof.

They were both given verbally lists of companies that do not hire foreigners or mixed.

My daughter was told her breast size would be a problem, yeah that one came up also in jr high.

So 30 years on and no much has changed.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Who the hell issues a cerificate for this?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Burning Bush

Seriously you want us to believe that?

Some people will do anything to avoid the truth.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@antiquesaving. Too bad you chose the ugly gaijin route. It may seem to be effective in the short term but can come back to bite either you or your child. It also rebounds on other foreigners here.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@Hollytree

To bad so many think it is ok to treat us and our children the way we are and apologise for being different.

I tried the nice polite way but after having to repeat and repeat btge same thing each Time the teachers school director change for each child and then again in jr high and again in Sr high.

At some point you have to realise it will not change asking nicely.

I get tire of those constantly making excuses for the way mixed children and foreigners are treated.

You like being walked on good that is your choice, don't tell me how to raise my children, did it and the results are they are still discriminated against now as adults as companies don't hire mixed and their universities know all those that don't and instead of saying something they just tell the mixed graduates not to apply to these companies.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Ricky

As a foreigner its not got much to do with you actually. Has nothing to do with halfs or foreign kidz.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

@thepersoniamnow

Actually is does!

This affects far more caucasian Japanese mix than non mixed just due to genetics.

If you don't think it does then I suggest you take a look around and see which group is more likely to have curly hair and light coloured hair. Pure Japanese or caucasian Japanese mix?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Public schools are not made to train outstanding people. They are just training people to be bottom tier workers. You rarely see people in top tier companies making 10M+ salaries coming out from public education system in Japan.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As a Hawaiian /Caucasian yet Japanese kid who grew up here then went on to live in 4 continents then came back here, I promise you not only do I understand, I have lived it...its still my current reality.

The people who most commonly dont get it are the western parents who flip a lid every time.

Mine included

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

My best friend is "GINGER" haha that would annoy them to hell if his daughter went to a Japanese school.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Always hilarious to hear angry parents of half kidz here in Japan telling me I dont get it. Their kidz and I are the ones who get it.

Everyone else simply has an opinion, usually based on where their from.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

The solution to this disciplinary problem is simple: To keep up the natural hair color rule, the schools must test every student, regardless of the current impression of hair color by only some teachers. Anything else is discriminatory since the rule istn't called "black hair rule", it's the "not dyeing hair rule". What about students with red hair which was dyed black. Yes, that seems to be ok but just shows that the interpretation of this rule is discriminatory.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Antiquesaving, fist-bump your daughter for that most excellent reply to the bar-code jiji!!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

At the school I work at, the day right after graduation, about 50% of the students that visit the school have their hair dyed already.

Japanese teens are so desperate to stand out or look cool because of the strict rules schools and society has placed on them.

No wonder University life is party time for most of these kids. Sadly, most don't have a clue what they want to do with their life because they haven't had the opportunity to find themselves. So, they inevitably end up just working for some company because they have no dreams or pursuits. Entrepreneurship is dead in this country too. Just mindless robots being created for a country that desperately needs new ideas.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The people who most commonly dont get it are the western parents who flip a lid every time.

Yeah tell that to my 2 mixed children, both of whom had multiple altercations including physical with teachers and other school officials.

If you like being treated aa a second class citizen great that is your choice.

My children had enough and they decided to not take it anymore and that started in primary school.

Why is it while all their friends that graduated university with them weren't given a list of companies that do not hire them? Because their friends aren't mixed so they don't need that unofficial list.

But the question is really why if the universities know that these companies don't hire mixed do the universities not say something publicly instead of quietly telling the mixed students that xyz company won't hire them because they are not pure Japanese.

Oh and my 2 children went to very different universities and both had lists.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Sure, and next the will have to CERTIFY The SKIN color too, Sick, Sick, Sick. NO wonder kids kill themselves.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Been here 30 plus years.

Those that think things have changed a lot or anything more than minorly should know this.

My son despite going to public school his entire K to 12 education managed to get into a very good university, he took business management in workplace diversity graduated near the top of his class.

When starting to apply for jobs, the university placement staff took him aside and presented him a list of prominent Japanese companies and told him to not write the name down but to memories them.

These are companies that the university contacted and where told they are not interested in any type of diversity, they do not hire foreigners, mixed of any LGBT+ but that if asked they would deny this fact.

The list contained many very surprising names what was more stunning was many of these companies were also companies my daughter's university told her not to apply to for the same reason, that is they don't hire mixed.

So that was last year.

As long as places like these universities are not willing to speak up, nothing will change.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Man this isn’t news to me AntiqueSavings.

Woman here know that even if they graduate with better grades they will get a lower paying job.

I know that many places will be stumped over the fact that ur not pure Japanese.

Why are you saying this? Because its news to you, and Im sorry about that, its wrong. But it sure isnt news to me, I’ve known Japan was this way since I was born here.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

When you apply for an identification card in US, they also want to know.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@antiquesaving, may be a bit of naming and shaming ??

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I suggest to prohibit hair dying (black) for men. Just to make the whole Japan understanding they are led by old people stuck in the 19th century.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

This is an assault, an abuse to all young persons.

This is 2021, not 1821.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

First certify the Hair Color, then Skin Color, then the Gender, then the Blood Type, then the Finger Prints, then the DNA, then the Sexual Orientation, then that you are NOT a Zombie, by the time the kids Graduates the school board should be in full control of every aspect of their lives.

JUST SICKINING.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If only the schools and the education board would use their time to teach students how to think, how to have an opinion, how to reason, how to use logic; how not to be a zombie, how not to be a robot, how not to rely on being spoonfed...then there would be some hope for this country.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@Pizza GaijinFeb. 27  07:30 am JST

I love Japan, but this is not a good country to raise children, especially if female. Too much unnecessary stress for children, too much unnecessary competition……the juku….many insane rules (such as the abovementioned hair-related one)…….and really really really too much gender gap.

Children have to enjoy school time and their young age.

I am glad that we will raise our newborn daughter in Florence and that my wife (Japanese) proposed the plan.

Italy and Europe have many problems, no country is perfect, but my daughter will be able to enjoy a freer childhood and adolescence and will be able to become a more independent woman.

We will come back to Japan after retirement.

I agree with your post and thumbed you up but I’m from a rough part of London and feel grateful for the general safety here and I have a daughter. She will learn self defense and logic and I’ll insure she has a hell of a lot of fun too. Florence is beautiful your luck m, more than most. Enjoy

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Through my own experience teaching in Japan, it just interests me that they worry so much about things like hair color and skirt length. But, then when a student falls asleep in the middle of class, teachers just ignore them.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is largely for these inherent weaknesses in the Japanese education system that my wife & I decided to raise & educate our biracial children in NZ.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Prove to the school board that you are displaying the traits of racial purity.

In most other first world nations, this would be a scandal.

Some systems just never left the 1930s.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

However... watch ANY anime which takes place in a Japanese high school. Count the number of students who have straight black hair. Perhaps half. The other half have various shades of brown, some almost red, some a bit wavy. None are blonde or curly, but it is absurd to care, honestly. Do Japanese educators believe dyed hair is dangerously distracting? Will cause students to become vain? Worry about true concerns. Economic worries, unhoused students, students dealing with hunger, those who cannot afford their texts or uniforms... NOT hair color. Perhaps limit to colors found in nature (no hot pink or lime green hair), but otherwise LET IT GO.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Perhaps all the School kids - Male & Female, should protest by shaving their heads fully.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This action by schools is the start of government oppression; soon Tojo will rise again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Draconian and stupid school rules like certifying natural hair color came after the student protests of the 60s and 70s. The idea behind this was to foist conformity through the terror of unreasonable rule-breaking. It has worked as any reign of terror has worked. Invariably, it cripples the intellect and the spirit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This reminds me of my first day as an ALT at a high school in Osaka. Back then, my Japanese was still intermediate-level.

During a school assembly I heard the principal saying something about “school rules” and something about “hair.” Then every homeroom teacher pulled a hair sample out of their pocket and compared it to each student standing in line. Anyone who didn’t match this jet-black sample was sent to the counselor’s office for a citation.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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