In feudal Japan, a beard was considered a symbol of power or a declaration of belligerent intent but bureaucrats in one town could find themselves sent to the bathroom, razor in hand, for sporting even the suggestion of a five o'clock shadow. Authorities in Isesaki, Gunma prefecture, have ordered all male employees to shave off their facial hair, and banish all thoughts of growing any, following c
![Japanese bureaucrats face up to the clean-cut look](https://cdn-ak-scissors.b.st-hatena.com/image/square/9a7e62fb033393d57def8e2ba9c062d906c5b25b/height=288;version=1;width=512/https%3A%2F%2Fi.guim.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fstatic%2Fsys-images%2FGuardian%2FPix%2Fpictures%2F2010%2F5%2F20%2F1274357029647%2FA-bearded-man-in-Tokyo-006.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D630%26quality%3D85%26auto%3Dformat%26fit%3Dcrop%26overlay-align%3Dbottom%252Cleft%26overlay-width%3D100p%26overlay-base64%3DL2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctYWdlLTIwMTAucG5n%26enable%3Dupscale%26s%3D69dfdfe2fd8f4a435f882d9fea24a73e)