Japanese barbers make a comeback

12 barbers have taken part in the World Barber Classic. This hairdressing contest took place in Tokyo.

There are 110,000 barber shops in Japan, but most of the barbers who work in them are elderly. These days, men are choosing to visit hair salons instead of barber shops.

This is because hairdressers often copy the hairstyles of celebrities. People think that barbers can only cut traditional men's hairstyles.

Young barbers are showing the world that their work is different. It's not just about traditional haircuts. Their work has become popular on social media.

One barber in the contest, Takamasa Suzuki, is cutting a bonsai tree haircut.

Takumasa Suzuki: "Actually, my model is a bonsai artist - a world-famous one at that. And as you know, bonsai has these unique shapes and textures of wood and branches, and I wanted each of these elements to be expressed in my haircut today."

The barbers have a time limit of 30 minutes. The judges watch them closely and give them points. It's about how the models feel as well as how they look. The barbers want the judges and the crowd to think differently about barbers.

Giancarlo Burgos, who's from Los Angeles, is a judge in the contest. For him, someone's hair says a lot about the person.

Giancarlo Burgos: "I think hair is more than just hair, right? It's a way of communicating yourself, but also connecting people. So I think it's a very, very amazing thing. And I'm so happy that now the world is becoming more aware. And especially seeing competition now, I think it begins to evolve past the chair, yeah. It's more worldwide and it's language that anybody can understand." View Less