Nobu needs a haircut
April 28, 2011
Style A: Corpus Christi cut
Style B: Tokyo cut
Style C: Bowl cut
(Note: This is a tongue-in-cheek piece - not to be taken too seriously. But there is some truth to the title.)
Notes from the Cliburn, May 31, 2009, Star-Telegram, Texas
(http://blogs.star-telegram.com/notes_from_the_cliburn/2009/05/index.html)
Some have commented on the appearance of blind Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, calling him "very shaggy." His manager, Fuyuki Kaburaki, said Tsujii has not had a hair cut in two months. The look was the pianist’s mother’s idea. -- Barry Shlachter
Things are a little quiet. No news from Canada, and, after this weekend, I expect many more quiet days.
So, let's take up an important subject: Nobu's hair style.
As you can see from the write-up in the text box above, which originally appeared in a blog maintained by a newspaper in Texas: Nobu's hair style was already an issue during the 2009 Cliburn Competition. As we know, he charmed a lot of people at the competition, shaggy hair notwithstanding. No problem there.
However, it has come to my attention that on his almost-completed North American tour, Nobu's hair has been shaggier than ever. I submit as evidence the exhibits below (click each to enlarge):
March 29, Boulder Colorado (photo posted on Nobu's own site)
April 8, Boston (my own photo)
April12, New York
(photo by Mike Lee, Ithaca College)
April 26, Fort Worth, Texas
(photo posted on the Cliburn Foundation facebook page.)
He started the tour with a bowl cut (above leftmost), and by the time I saw him in Boston (above second), he was already in need of a haircut. He wore the same overgrown hair style at Ithaca College, New York (above, third). So I was astonished to see a photo of him in Fort Worth this week (above right) with his hair practically covering his eyes. I love Nobu, and even with that awful hair, Nobu manages to come across as the sweetheart that he is. But it does pain me to see him so under-groomed.
What gives? Did he leave Tokyo in such a hurry that there was no time for a haircut? Has he been kept so busy on this tour that an appointment with a barber has been out of the question? I just don't understand.
Nobu wears that bowl cut entirely too often. It is probably how his hair falls naturally. But a smart haircut can go a long way.
Let's take a look at some footage from the "Soloman Ryu" show, aired in Tokyo last year (which can be viewed on youTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX3q-Mumx9U.) In the part of the show where Nobu is shown performing in Corpus Christi, Texas, in fall of 2010: You will note, in the screen-grabs below, that Nobu is wearing a stylish, sculptured cut that shapes his face extremely well. I will call this style choice A. I trust that you agree with me that this style is a vast improvement over the bowl cut.
Here is Choice B: When he is in Tokyo, Nobu sometimes sports what I call the "Tokyo cut". See photos below. It is a very stylish cut, but it is very -- what some Americans would call -- "metrosexual", or, using an old-fashioned term, dandy. And a little feminine. It is -- in my opinion -- NOT Nobu. It IS much better than the bowl cut, but I think style A, above, is the way to go for Nobu.
Image is not everything. But it is something, especially for someone in the public eye. As an ardent fan, I can overlook just about anything, but others may not be so understanding. And Nobu IS -- whether he likes it or not -- representing his own country, Asia, and the blind. Sorry, Nobu, but a bowl cut just -- ah -- won't cut it.
He cannot see for himself. So, whoever is in charge of such things, please see to it that Tsujii-san gets a good haircut -- at least when he's on tour. And, while you are at it, perhaps something can be done about his wardrobe also? :-) :-) Thank you! どうもありがとう!
All in good fun.