The Face in Japanese Aesthetic Categories: Modification Practices and Their Meanings

Abstract

Japanese aesthetics are based on values distinct from Western traditions, affirming irregularity, ambiguity, impermanence, and simplicity. Categories such as wabi‑sabi and kawaii shape local understandings of beauty by emphasizing naturalness, authenticity, and emotional warmth. Within this context, historically established aesthetic practices such as tooth blackening (ohaguro), the traditional removal of natural eyebrows and the drawing of new ones higher on the forehead (hikimayu), or the contemporary trend of intentionally shaping dental irregularities (yaeba) are not merely fashions but performative gestures embedded in local categories of beauty. They manifest values that stand in contrast to the global pursuit of symmetry and perfection, highlighting the cultural role of the body as a carrier of meaning, identity, and social expectations.