Black Japanese Student Separated From Classmates During Graduation For Wearing Cornrows

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A high school student in Japan said he was separated from his classmates for wearing cornrows to his graduation ceremony.

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The 18-year-old student asked his father, an African-American man from New York, about hairstyles he could wear to style his curly hair since he wanted a neat look for his graduation. After deciding on cornrows, the teen was reprimanded by school administrators at the unnamed school in Himeji City in Hyogo prefecture, as reported by NextShark. Officials said the hairstyle was prohibited from wearing for the event.

He was allegedly forced to wait in a student guidance room for almost an hour and then was escorted to another room on the second floor before the ceremony began. Additionally, teachers told him not to respond to his name when it was called during the ceremony on February 27. 

“Students then returned to school in uniform to receive their diplomas and souvenirs. At that time, I was sent to a room with no other students, and the teacher accompanied me when I went to the bathroom. After receiving my diploma and other documents, I was waiting for a friend at the school when a teacher asked me to leave the school. A student recalled, “It was frustrating to hear people say, ‘It’s not your special day.’ (Hairstyle) is my father’s roots and black culture.”

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The Prefectural Board of Education claims the school told the student to get a hair before the ceremony because his long hair violated a school regulation that it should be “clean” like a high school student. The student decided to go home during the ceremony before his name was called and said he picked the hairstyle because it is a part of his father’s culture. His father also said the hairstyle is clean and fits in with the school’s policy.

“Braiding is a way for Black people to arrange their hair, the same way that Japanese people part their hair. It’s discriminatory to assume that a hairstyle with roots is a violation without any reason,”

However, the school’s decision was criticized online as several other schools follow a similar strict policy called “burraku kouksoku,” which enforces traditional rules in regard to appearance. The vice principal also released a statement and said he does not deny traditional hairstyles.

“I am not denying traditional hairstyles, but I have been teaching according to hair type, and it does not mean that students could not attend graduation ceremonies because they were allowed to attend at different locations.”

In Japan, school policies on hair can vary depending on the school and the region. However, most schools have strict guidelines on hairstyles and hair colors for both male and female students.

For example, many schools require male students to have short hair, no bangs covering their eyebrows or ears, and no dyed hair. Female students are often required to tie their hair up in a specific way, with no hair accessories deemed too flashy or distracting. Additionally, some schools may prohibit certain hairstyles, such as braids or dreadlocks.

These policies are intended to promote discipline, uniformity, and a focus on academics in the school environment. However, some argue these rules can be oppressive and limit individual expression.

In recent years, some efforts have been made to relax these policies and allowing more freedom in student hairstyles. Some schools have introduced more lenient guidelines that allow for a wider range of hairstyles and colors as long as they are deemed appropriate and not overly distracting.

 

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