cutting short; cropped hair
Historical term for the short hairstyle adopted by men in early Meiji Japan, symbolizing modernization and the break from the traditional topknot. Often appears in the phrase 散切り頭 (ざんぎりあたま).
In the early Meiji period, cropped hair was seen as a symbol of civilization and enlightenment.
There is a saying: 'If you tap a cropped head, you hear the sound of civilization and enlightenment.'
cropped head; close-cropped hairstyle
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
Compound of 散 (ざん, 'scattered' or 'cut') and 切り (きり, 'cutting'), referring to the act of cutting off the traditional topknot. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is strongly associated with the early Meiji period's Westernization policies.