Hyogo high schooler excluded from grad ceremony for cornrow hairstyle

16 comments

1. Considering how many teachers in the country turn out to be bullies/rapists, I really don’t think they can be the arbiters of morality. Especially with regards to something as mundane as a student’s haircut.

2. Is it really about morality? Some people are saying it’s racism. Or do schools here have published rules about uniforms, grooming, tattoos, piercings, make-up, hairstyles, jewelry, etc.? We know they do. While I empathize with the student, having children in public schools here (in Tokyo), I know they are reasonably strict about adhering to the rules and overall it makes sense. Particularly at graduation time, most schools prohibit dyed hair, etc.

3. The student in question has an African American father, meaning that he most likely has very curly hair. Cornrows are an appropriate protective hairstyle for such a hair type, and the school rule is tantamount to racial discrimination. Even if he knew that he would be excluded from his own graduation because of his hairstyle beforehand, the rule is unjust.

4. Everyone is offended and demands inclusivity everywhere. Let them make decisions in their own country. Japan is the way it is because of how its culture is. Stop demanding it be like your miserable home countries.

5. [deleted]

6. I grew up partly in Japan as a “ha-fu”, and oh boy, I tell you, it was not pretty. Teachers here were so racists and used me as a way to speak how Americans are lazy but rich just because where they from.

   I had brighter hair colour and green eyes, that made me stood out from the crowd, and if you know Japanese culture, you never want to stand out; a nail that stands will be hammered down. 出る杭は打たれる

   I’m sad that the practice has not changed since. Let him embrace his identity; I beg Japan to change, be inclusive for people with different culture and allow flexibility in one’s expression of self. Some scholar once said Japan is a country with soft dictatorship but more than ever I feel that’s true.

7. This country needs some flexibility

8. I favor the school boards position; adherence to school rules is far more important than diversity and inclusion. You shape and mold your society to conform to a standard set by the majority. This is a good thing. The hafu was not born with cornrows and he did not wear cornrows during the school year, so he should not wear them at graduation. Best option would be to have a crew cut. Good Japan still has control over its young people, unlike in the rest of the world.

9. That is a crying shame

10. I see nothing has changed in all these years. It really sucks being mixed in Japan.

11. There is no discriminatory element in this matter

    This student just wanted to stand out at the graduation ceremony
    and he was instructed by his teacher
    that’s all
    No violation of human rights or discrimination

12. 共同通信ｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗ

13. I think the rule is dumb. I think sometimes we have to follow dumb rules even though they’re dumb. And sometimes the way to bring attention to dumb rules is to not follow them and get in trouble for something that is dumb.

    Kudos to this kid for taking one for the team.

14. no one else can do braids. you arnt special.

    follow the rules, like everyone else.

    Im from Oklahoma, I wont demand my son has the ability to wear a mohawk.

15. the reason everyone loves japan. The culture.

    Every time you change something, you are changing the culture.

    one day its hair style, next day its something else.

16. There’s almost no more alien a hairstyle to Japanese than cornrows…every single attendee of the graduation is going to notice this obvious square peg. The student should intend to be as uniform as possible, not do his little turn on the catwalk…