In one of the countless little tasks we have to complete before our wedding in Tokyo this weekend, Mari and I visited the local barbershop/salon yesterday. I got a haircut, and Mari got a shave.
We sat in adjacent barber’s chairs, with Mari behind a frosted glass partition. After half-an-hour, I was all cleaned up, but the barber woman (barbress?) was still working on Mari. I went over for a peek.
The barbress held a straight razor in one hand and Mari’s head in the other. She scraped the blade deftly along the rim of Mari’s ear, pushing a soapy froth of shaving lotion along the cutting edge. She turned Mari’s head, spread lotion on her nose, and applied the blade to her skin again.
I should clarify that Mari is not a hairy woman. Other than eyebrows and eyelashes, her face has barely even any peach fuzz. Even that is gone now, and her skin is smoother and shinier then ever. This type of shave, konreiyÅ ubuge shori, is apparently a normal part of preparing for the traditional Japanese wedding ceremony: to ready the woman’s skin for the white makeup that will cover her entire face, neck and upper chest.
Hopefully the last time Mari needs her ears shaved.
Lots of last-minute things to do before I head off to Tokyo tomorrow to tour with my folks. Mari will join us later in the week. Then Saturday, the wedding!
Comments
10 responses to “wedding shave”
You’re doing san-san-kudo? cool. Congratulations and good luck. When are you coming back to Kyoto?
Thanks, Nils! Yeah, I need to read over the ceremony a few more times and practice my little romaji statement.
Back in town on Sunday, then we’ll take my mom and dad around for a couple days. I’ll finally take the Johnny Hillwalker tour and see sites I should have visited long ago.
I’m so happy for you! Wish I could be there. I’m a new devotee to this blog of yours. Great stuff. Congratulations!
Congratulations on your marriage! (As it turns out, as I scan the archives it looks like I should have gone to Jubilee this year after all – all the cool kids were there.) All the best to you and Mari.
have a fantastic wedding!!!! i hardly know you, but i’m really happy for you guys. …i wanna see pictures!
hi, rick
since you’re one of the best filipino photobloggers (according to philippineblogawards.com) may i invite you to send some of your favorite photos (taken by yourself) – i am interested in featuring you and your photo in my new photo blog.
thanks!
http://chrislagman.com/eye
Congratulations you two!
Warm thanks to everyone, from me and Mari, for the congratulations!
The wedding was a lot of hectic fun with food, family and friends. We’re back in Kyoto now, catching up on sleep and settling into married life. I hope to post some updates soon….
Odd…for some reason your name popped up in my head and I googled you. Don’t know if you remember or if you even care anymore – this is Michael Mai from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma. Remember me?
It’s good to see you again (even virtually) and it’s better to see that you recently *married*. Can’t believe it…we’re not that un-young anymore, are we?
Good luck with everything,
Michael
Wow, Michael Mai! Of course I remember.
And I was thinking, “Gee, IF anyone from high school ever googled me (the way I google them), then they would be sure to find me, but I’ve only heard from a couple people that way, so I guess no one ever looks for me….”