Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, fourth from left, and then Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, across the table from Kishida, hold a discussion with Self-Defense Forces members at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Asaka in November 2021. (Pool)

In their battle to attract new members, Defense Ministry officials are considering relaxing hair requirements within the Self-Defense Forces to help them win the war. 

Ministry officials said at an expert panel on June 28 on the SDF’s recruitment strategies that they will discuss necessary changes to unreasonable rules on the physical appearance of the country’s service members.

Such changes are needed to promote diversity and inclusion in the organization's ranks, they said.

On the other hand, the officials stressed that reasonable regulations should remain in place, adding that what constitutes as “reasonable” needs to be discussed further. 

They said the SDF’s current rules prohibit showy hairstyles and men having long hair to maintain the dignity and discipline of the troops as well as to ensure members can efficiently perform their duties.

Grooming regulations vary slightly between branches of the forces.

In the Ground Self-Defense Force, members are not allowed to dye their hair red or blond.

Guidelines at the Ground SDF also state that men should have closely cropped hair or keep their hair short enough so that it doesn’t touch the ears, eyebrows or collarbone.

Women’s hair should be short or worn in braids but not in a ponytail.

In the Air Self-Defense Force, fashion hairstyles such as shaving all the hair on one’s head except the very top are also prohibited.

In some brochures for new members, men are encouraged to have a crew cut while women are advised to wear their hair short enough that it doesn’t need to be tied up.

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