Mari and I finally found time yesterday to get me a haircut. I have a simple cut, but it had been almost two months since the last one, and each day I got shaggier and more kakko warui.
I had a place nearby in mind — a small barbershop within walking distance on Shirakawa-dori. It seemed no-nonsense, unstyled, hopefully inexpensive.
We waded through the thick Sunday afternoon and found the spinning red, white and blue pole. Inside the shop the air was cooler, and the feeling was very “barbershop.” Aqua-colored vinyl padded bench, tiled floor in the cutting area, rectangular bottles of aftershave, a radio in one corner, manga in the other, and a light hair tonic smell in the air. The owner, a compact grey-haired man, said a cut would cost Â¥2300, about $22.
I took out my Powerbook, opened iPhoto and showed him some photos of myself with short hair. Mari translated some of the details, like how I have huge gaps between the tops of my ears and my hairline that I’d like to stay covered.
He used scissors, a comb, and a straight razor for the sideburns and neck.
The short hair is much more comfortable in the humidity, and I feel lighter, restored, relieved. Mari says I look like a cooler guy than before.