I remember the first time I listened to a song and knew that it was Japanese. I thought, “Hey! This is new and different!” and as the years went by I later found out that Japanese music and music from Western countries weren’t all that different. You have your avante garde jazz groups, your punk rockers and pop punk poseurs, even your reggae and dub all stars.

Yet one thing has always bothered me. There’s a rare quality among Japanese musicians that Western musicians have no trouble obtaining: beards. I can think of several bearded American and British artists from The Beatles all the way down to System of a Down. Out of all the Japanese artists out there, only Tetsuya Fukagawa of envy comes to mind. Maybe I’m just not listening to enough bearded artists, or maybe I just don’t realize how many artists I do know that possess at least a goatee. Being half asian myself I do know how difficult it is to grow facial hair, but with enough effort it can be done.

So come on guys. Do Oda Nobunaga proud. Grow a beard.

You must have forgotten about Bazra man and Yoshikazu Grover (though he’s half Indian). Does needs more beards though.

I also forgot about the Acidman guys, but their goatees are hard to notice.

I know they are full beards but there’s Arai from The Band Apart (half-assed attemp, shameful), but the coolest goatee has got to be the guitarest from Doping Panda, his name escapes me.

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Some of the THE BACK HORN and Tokyo Jihen guys sport (small) goatees from time to time, too.

I’m not sure about Japanese men, but I know Korean men didn’t grow mustaches and beards (even though they’re capable) because it’s known to be a Chinese man’s thing. o_O Even now, my dad is the only Korean man I know with a mustache. I think only celebrities dare to wear a mustache or beard for the sake of fashion.

Nakao Kentarou of Number Girl and Sloth Love Chunks has often been seen with a goatee. One of the guitarists from Sparta Locals had a beard, too.

http://www.jmignited.com/raprofile/spartalocals.jpg

I know I can think of HIGE obviously, but I think their beards are fake. Or mustaches, cant remember what Hige meant.

Anyway I know Hawaiian6’s lead singer had a sort of goatee and Takuma, lead guitar from 10-feet was growing his own out in several PV’s I had seen.

Mostly they are from the older bands in the punk scene, but i can’t think of anymore straight up.
~Hideki~

Oh yeah, also: At least one of the guys from Special Others has facial hair, and I *think* it’s more like two or three, I don’t recall. Also, one member of Spangle Call Lilli Line, as can clearly be seen on the main page, has facial hair!

toe, dude. toe.

Actually I think Arai from the band apart has an awesome Abraham Lincoln style beard. Same with Grover. Thanks for all the contributions guys. I totally forgot how many bands that I’ve even listened to that sport the hair.

Scumgrinder in 54-71 sports a beard. If I move to Tokyo I would sport a beard. Once I can grow one. Not at that point in time yet.

Teppei Inoue’s beard trumps all. Seriously. That man has the coolest beard on the planet.

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