Memoirs of a Mustache

So, starting at my middle school's graduation, I decided that I would stop shaving. Of course the purpose of this was to grow a beard, but since almost no Japanese man has one, it was quite a source of controversy at school. I got comments ranging from, "Are you sick?" to "You look tired." to "I get a bad feeling from you..." Yes that's right, my scruffiness was on every teacher's lips and no one knew what to say or do. Luckily for us both, we had a bit of a break between semesters and I was able to grow it out a bit more. When I got back, the comments changed from "You look tired", to "Not kakkoi" which means "Not cool".

Its hard to do the right thing sometimes. What is right is not always popular, and I had taken it on as a kind of personal quest for the kids of Fukushima to know what it looks like for a man (a real man) to have a beard. Sure, Clem teaches at one of the elementary schools on the island, and sure his beard is way more thick and luxurious than mine, but he doesn't live on the island. I have gotten reactions across the board. From young kids running from me in terror, to kids running right up to me and tugging on my chin hair, to just getting moderate stares in public. Some of the middle school girls thought it was cool, while others couldn't even talk to me without laughing. What a rollercoaster ride of attention!

Now, this is not the first time I've had a beard of this length, but it very well might be the last. Dorothy, bless her heart, is not fond of the beard. Seeing on how I will be marrying her in less than a year, I doubt it will ever resurface. Yep, this two month stint was kind of a hippy binge, a bachelor party for the face, a secret self indulgence of whiskery significance. Dorothy, of course, is not alone in the disdain for the beard. About 95% of all women I've talked with about it agree that "No beard" is the "Go beard". Oddly, though almost 100% of heterosexual men love it. They find it a icon of manliness, a symbol of significant maturity; something they can aspire to grow themselves. But, when everything is said and done, I'm not too interested in impressing straight men. So I shaved.

Well... I didn't shave. My friend Jill did. I made a deal with her this past weekend and if all conditions were met, SHE could shave it off, along with my hair. What better place to do this than a two day rock festival in Oita prefecture! So that's where we headed. Around midnight on Saturday night, slowly but steadily, the beard came off. Luckily others were there to record images for posterity. Hope you enjoy the shots as well as the new, clean cut, buttery smooth, bristly headed Mario.

Me and Jill at "Concert on the Rock".


A side shot of the beard.


Leah and I act like pirates in front of our tent. By the way, my sis made the shirt I'm wearing.


Final shots of the beard.


A little off the top please!


Jill misses my beard entirely and goes for the eyebrows...


Trimmin'


I watch as my masculinity is shaved away.


Ittai!


A progress report.


The "mustache game"




One of those shaver commercials.




No beard, but still a full head of hair.


Jill contemplates what hairstyle to give me.


A bit off the sides.


Jill gets distracted and starts taking pictures of mukade outside the bathroom.


Tadaa!