Relating this tweet, I‘m writing about a hair color issue in Japanese society.
Q: Why did he struggle to find a new job due to his light hair color?
A: Because many Japanese employers believe that a light colored hair person isn’t serious.
Although nobody complain about dying white or gray hair black, many of Japanese senior people are opposed to dyeing hair light color. They believe that Japanese hair should be black, and if someone has light colored hair that means the person dyed their hair. And they also believe that people who dye their hair light color are not serious, not good for study or work.
In 2017, there was news that a high school student sued local government for being forced to dye her natural brown hair black in public school. She got sick by the hair dye and had to stop going to school.
Unfortunately this high school was not the only one that prohibited students from dyeing their hair a light color. Many high schools as well as junior high schools demand light colored hair students prove that it is natural with childhood photos. After these cases were widely reported, it got much criticism.
Japanese society is getting more diverse nowadays, people’s appearances are not necessarily the same. Natural hair color is not necessarily black. Some people, especially employers and people on school boards, need to update their thoughts.
And an essential question still remain.
Why dyeing hair is viewed as such a bad thing in Japan?
When I was a child, light hair color was a symbol of bad boys and girls.
Back then dyeing hair a light color was very rare, and rebellious kids like to do anything different from the common people. But it was over 3 decades ago. Dyeing hair is pretty common right now, many parents of teenager even have artificial brown hair. (And I also do! I don’t have kids though.)
Either natural or not, hair color is just hair color.
We shouldn’t focus on one’s appearance but personality and skill.