He’s Surprised? We’re Surprised!

A Cheeky Look at Pubic Hair Norms in Japan and Beyond, so there’s this woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Dating back to the 19th century, it shows a man with a distinctly wide-eyed, almost startled expression… like he’s just discovered a secret ingredient in his sushi. The shock might (or might not) be related to the presence of, shall we say, a fluffy region that’s casually on display. In modern speak: the man seems a little taken aback by what he sees (or doesn’t see). Artistic license? Possibly. A glimpse into Edo-period taboos? Also possible.

Fast forward to now, and you realize that in Japan, attitudes about hair…particularly down there… carry just as much cultural weight as an impeccably tied obi. Meanwhile, the West has its own unwritten rulebook about pubic hair: some see it as an optional decoration, while others view it as an exotic relic from 1970s fashion magazines.

Why so serious? Let’s blame it on a few things.

In Japan, where kawaii reigns, hair is often considered the opposite of adorable. Yet, in the realm of intimate grooming, the old-school stance of “leave it be” still holds strong for many. Yes, there are entire industries devoted to removing “unwanted hair,” or mudage, but the notion that pubic hair is dirty or unappealing hasn’t fully taken root as it has in some Western cultures. It’s a bit of a paradox: “Everything else, wax it. That? Meh, optional.”

Western media, on the other hand, loves its hairless ideals. With skimpy swimwear and endless references to “maintaining the bikini line,” many in the U.S. and Europe have turned the nether regions into a blank canvas—no stubble allowed. Blame it on Hollywood or the gym shower peer pressure… whatever the cause, it’s become a mainstream expectation in many places.

Then there’s the Lolita syndrome and the cult of kawaii, where the idea of looking youthful (some might argue too youthful) feeds into the conversation about pubic hair or its absence. Some interpret hairlessness as fresh or innocent, while others see it as a worrisome nod to a childlike aesthetic. Regardless, the sociological underpinnings… as in much of the aesthetics world; are, to say the least, complicated.

Enter the philosophies. Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of impermanence, imperfection, and the natural. Perhaps that patch of natural hair is simply an expression of ephemeral beauty; waxed or unwaxed, it’s all part of nature’s design. Mono no Aware speaks to the gentle sadness in realizing everything changes; that perfect wax job will grow out, and that untouched hair might eventually get trimmed, too… there’s a poetic truth that nothing stays the same for too long. And Ikigai encourages living with purpose. For some, that means feeling confident at the beach (razors out!), while for others, it means focusing on bigger things than “should I wax?” Maybe your true calling doesn’t involve a vow of hairlessness at all.

So, back to our shocked hero. Kuniyoshi’s piece hints that surprise around body hair is hardly a new phenomenon. We can’t fully decipher what that character was thinking (and he might not be telling), but his wide-eyed look could be a timeless reminder that our expectations around body hair… pubic or otherwise are bound up in culture, personal taste, and a dash of universal curiosity.

Whether you’re a fan of the all-natural approach or you’re heavily invested in every new hair-removal gadget on the market, there’s something delightfully human about the debate. Think of it as a cross-cultural Rorschach test: we all see something different in the fuzz. If we were to channel Kuniyoshi’s apparently startled subject today, we might say: “If the hair fits, keep it. If it doesn’t, well… that’s between you and your razor.”

Because ultimately, the real scandal might just be how shocked we are that people make different choices when it comes to… everything.

Woodblock by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 1798 – 1861

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Author’s Note:
Yes, the man in the print does look startled, but keep in mind that Edo-era artists weren’t exactly posing their models like Instagram influencers. We can only guess at his reaction. Maybe he just realized he forgot to blow out the candle at home, or perhaps, just maybe, he caught an unexpected glimpse of an unshaven secret. We’ll let you decide.