Samurai grooming tips that kept Japan’s warriors looking their bushido best soranews24.com

A couple of weeks ago, we shared some historical photos of Japan’s most attractive samurai.
It turns out that along with sword fighting and horseback archery, a strict grooming routine has long been part of the samurai tradition.
The practice of Japan’s warriors and men of the ruling class taking pains to look their best stretches back to at least the Heian period, which lasted from 794 to 1185.
Much as with modern military men, though, it was still essential that a samurai look presentable at all times, so as not to bring shame upon himself with his slovenliness.
The Edo period lasted for more than 260 years, though, so eventually popular tastes shifted to the exact opposite, and a clean-shaven face was considered the most handsome.