A hairstyle revolution is quietly reshaping high school judo clubs across Japan, where teenage athletes are trading traditional buzz cuts for longer, salon-trimmed styles as part of an expanding corporate-backed initiative. Mandom reported that the movement is driven by the Extracurricular Club Activity Hair Salon project, run by Osaka-based cosmetics manufacturer Mandom Corp. in partnership with high school students nationwide. By encouraging personal expression, the project seeks to counter a steep decline in participation across the sport.
Mandom Expands Grooming Workshops to 33 Schools
Mandom Corp. launched its “What Do You Think about Club Hairstyles?” initiative in 2023 under the slogan “Become What You Want to Be in Full Scale.” The program is designed to help students balance self-expression with their extracurricular commitments. Since its inception, the cosmetics maker has hosted hair salon programs at 33 schools, covering roughly 15 sports and related activities, including soccer, rugby, and marching bands.
During these workshops, students write down the names of athletes they admire and describe their ideal self-image. The exercise aims to help participants clarify their personal values and explain their hairstyle choices in their own words. A Mandom official noted that unwritten grooming norms often drive students away from joining or staying in school sports clubs. “It’s important for students to choose their own hairstyle and have their own reasons for that choice,” the official said.
Tenri High School Judo Members Step Into Beauty Salons
In July last year, Mandom partnered with the judo department of the All Japan High School Athletic Federation to hold its first hair salon program for a judo team at Takagawa Gakuen in Yamaguchi Prefecture. More recently, in May this year, 35 members of the judo club at Tenri High School in Nara Prefecture—a judo powerhouse—participated in the workshop.
Kaito Ikeda, a teacher and coach at Tenri High School, explained that while the school has no explicit rule requiring buzz cuts, an unwritten atmosphere had long compelled new members to crop their hair short before joining. “A buzz cut does not mean someone is serious, nor does one’s hairstyle affect athletic ability,” Ikeda told the team, encouraging students to maintain a broad perspective on life and sport. Following the workshop, 15 team members visited a nearby beauty salon for haircuts. Daisuke Takahashi, a third-year student and club captain, smiled as he remarked that his mind felt clear and ready for a fresh start.
All Japan Judo Federation Reports Steep Drop in High School Competitors
The push for individual expression arrives as high school judo faces mounting participation challenges. According to the All Japan Judo Federation, high school membership stood at approximately 16,700 in fiscal 2025, marking a 40 percent decline over the past two decades. Atsushi Kodama, head of the judo department at the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, voiced deep concern over the shrinking talent pool. “We do not know the cause, but the number of children who continue with judo is declining,” Kodama said.
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