I honestly don’t know what subreddit I’m supposed to ask. To make it quick and blunt; I’ve noticed in a few animes and movies and even Japanese type games, there seems to be a lot of male characters with bob cuts. I don’t mean bowl cuts. I mean a bob cut, usually down to their shoulder, with bangs. I wanted to know if this is somehow how young boys (usually they have this style) back in Japan used to have this hairstyle. Is it traditional? I totally understand guys having longer hair back in the day in almost every single culture and place, but specifically with bangs – not something I’ve heard much. I can understand without bangs, but with bangs, it seems oddly too feminine or a little odd? I even understand man buns but I don’t know why this really sticks out to me. I mean yeah I’ve seen those typical very long haired Chinese shows with “traditional” styles that have bangs. Maybe it’s the let-down version of the typical samurai look in anime (which is to me like – a messy cut bang and side bangs with a short ponytail – maybe Yato from Noragami?). But to me, if you see the examples below – it’s a little different. That samurai type look is messy and the bangs/hair aren’t straight and bold enough to make me bat an eye or maybe because I almost never see it without it being tied up. I don’t necessarily have a problem with it, they are often my favorite characters and they can look quite lovely. Simply curious. Here’s are some examples that I can remember (I’m sure you can find more on your own – please share if you do!):

- Spirited away (Haru – it’s so boldly cut and perfect, this is what I’m talking about)

- Howl’s moving castle (Howl – I think the character isn’t really Japanese but he is created by Japanese authors, and he’s truly beautiful – yes, I know he isn’t a young boy either)

- Tower of God (Khun Aguero Agnis – tell me you didn’t also almost die when he tied it into a ponytail)

- Sekiro (Kuro – cutest cinnamon roll ever)

I must say, seeing this hairstyle on older grown men may seem very weird in real life although Howl is somehow an exception (although I also mean grandpas). I mean if the bobcut is very straight and bold like Haru, it would look weird on girls in real life as well. No matter how straight, or bold, I still wonder – was a bobcut a common hairstyle back in the day in Japan or even today for young boys? Is it just something normal (bangs on guys) in Asian countries and their history (never seen this is in places other than Asian ones)? Is this more of a cultural Asian thing? Or am I just weird?

Thank you.