ancient boys' hairstyle with loops above ears
Historical term for a pre-modern boys' hairstyle featuring a central part and a loop above each ear.
In Heian-period picture scrolls, boys with the agemaki hairstyle are depicted.
Meiji-period women's topknot hairstyle
Historical term for a Meiji-era women's hairstyle in which the hair is twisted into a knot on top of the head and secured with a pin.
Photographs from the Meiji period show women with their hair done in the agemaki style.
type of kabuki dance
Only when written 揚巻
A specific dance piece in kabuki, written with the kanji 揚巻.
The kabuki piece 'Agemaki' is known for its brilliant dance.
sumo ring decorative knots
Only when written 揚巻
In sumo, the four tassels in the colors of the cardinal directions that hang from the roof above the ring; written 揚巻.
Above the sumo ring, four-colored agemaki tassels are suspended.
Chinese razor clam; constricted tagelus
Abbreviation of アゲマキガイ; usually written in katakana. Refers to the bivalve Sinonovacula constricta.
See also: アゲマキガイ
The agemaki is a type of shellfish that can be gathered during clam digging.
Full name for the clam; アゲマキ is the common abbreviation.
constricted tagelus; Chinese razor clam
Standard kanji form for most senses, including the hairstyles, kabuki dance, and sumo knots.
Alternate kanji for the ancient boys' hairstyle; less common than 揚巻.
Katakana spelling is usual for the clam sense.
The derivation is uncertain. The kanji 揚巻 literally suggest 'raised roll/tie', which fits the looped hairstyles and decorative knots.