ちょんまげ

ちょんまげ
noun
topknot, samurai hairstyle
cultureappearance
1. topknot, samurai hairstyle
A traditional Japanese male hairstyle where the hair is gathered and tied into a knot on top of the head. Historically worn by samurai and now by sumo wrestlers.
力士(りきし)はちょんまげを結(むす)っている。
Sumo wrestlers wear their hair in a topknot.
江戸時代(えどじだい)の武士(ぶし)はちょんまげが一般的(いっぱんてき)だった。
The topknot was common among samurai in the Edo period.
引退(いんたい)した力士(りきし)がちょんまげを切(き)る儀式(ぎしき)は断髪式(だんぱつしき)と呼(よ)ばれる。
The ceremony where a retired sumo wrestler cuts off his topknot is called a danpatsushiki.

Writing

Can be written as 丁髷(ちょんまげ), but the hiragana form is standard.

Cultural note

The ちょんまげ was the standard hairstyle for adult males during the Edo period (1603-1868). After the Meiji Restoration, the government issued the 散髪脱刀令(さんぱつだっとうれい) (1871), encouraging men to cut their topknots. Today, the ちょんまげ survives primarily in sumo wrestling, where active wrestlers are required to wear their hair in this style. The 断髪式(だんぱつしき) (topknot-cutting ceremony) marks a wrestler's retirement.

Related words

  • 大銀杏(おおいちょう): the formal topknot style worn by senior sumo wrestlers
  • 断髪式(だんぱつしき): topknot-cutting ceremony
general
Added 2026.2.9 13:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17626_chonmage