Foreigners in Japan are not necessarily expected to follow exactly the same grooming standards as Japanese people.
Hair, beards, clothing, and makeup can all reflect cultural differences. A style that might stand out among Japanese people may simply be seen as part of a foreign person’s culture or personal preference.
That does not mean Japanese society is unconcerned about appearance.
Depending on the workplace or position, there can be clear rules about clothing and appearance. For example, Osaka City has rules requiring municipal employees with tattoos to keep them from being visible to members of the public while they are working. In other words, Japanese people themselves can also face specific expectations about how they present themselves.
Foreigners, however, may be given a little more room when the difference is clearly cultural.
One important distinction is between personal style and cleanliness. A hairstyle that is uncommon in Japan, a distinctive beard, or a different style of clothing may be accepted as cultural or personal variation. Dirty clothes, strong body odor, or an obviously unkempt appearance are more likely to be noticed regardless of nationality.
The setting also matters.
Foreign workers are not always expected to adopt the same hairstyle or clothing as their Japanese coworkers. But a customer-facing job may require a neat appearance, and workplaces with safety rules may restrict certain clothing, hairstyles, or accessories. The same applies to situations such as job interviews, weddings, and funerals, where a basic level of formality is expected.
So what foreigners are generally expected to do in Japan is not to “look Japanese.”
Japanese people themselves may face fairly specific grooming expectations in some settings, while differences in a foreigner’s hairstyle or clothing may be given somewhat more room as cultural variation.
But basic cleanliness and dressing appropriately for the situation still matter. Those expectations are not limited by nationality.
References
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Guidelines for Employers on Appropriate Measures for Improving the Employment Management of Foreign Workers”
- Osaka City, “Handling of Tattoos Among City Employees”
