Chonmage

Chonmage is a traditional Japanese male hairstyle characterized by a partially shaved crown with the remaining hair gathered into a topknot at the crown. The style originated with samurai and, in the Edo period, became a symbol of masculine status and formal dress, signifying a wearer’s place in society and adherence to tradition.

Historically, the crown was shaved or kept very short to help secure a helmet in combat, while the hair at the back and sides was left long enough to be tied into the topknot. The knot, sometimes treated with oil or other preparations to hold its shape, served practical purposes in addition to its visual identity. Over time, chonmage evolved into a distinctive everyday and ceremonial look associated with samurai culture during the Edo era and persisted in certain contexts after Western influences reshaped daily fashion in the Meiji period.

In modern Japan, the chonmage survives primarily in sumo wrestling and in ceremonial or theatrical settings. Sumo wrestlers maintain a stylized version of the topknot as part of their professional image, with regimens for grooming and upkeep dictated by the sport’s traditions. Outside sumo, the hairstyle appears in traditional theater, historical reenactments, and cosplay, where accurate reproductions are used to evoke historical costume. The chonmage remains a recognizable symbol of Japan’s cultural heritage and its historical martial and ceremonial practices.