5 Bald Anime Characters: Heroes and Hair Loss in Japan

Let's take a look at five bald anime characters and explore how hair loss influenced their backstories, character arcs, and legacies.

In the west, baldness has become increasingly associated with action heroes like Jason Statham and The Rock. In Japan, hair loss remains highly stigmatized - both on screen and in real life.

This article aims to explore what it truly means to be a bald (anime) man in Japan.

Caveats before we begin:

Anime fans may be disheartened to see that their favorite bald characters did not make this list.

Keep in mind that these five were chosen not for being the “best”, but rather for the belief that they were made bald for reasons of character development - not simply aesthetics.

This post will also contain spoilers. All of these shows have been out for several years, but just in case you’re planning to start one for the first time - I thought it would be good to mention.

1. Krillin (Dragon Ball)

Perhaps the most common theme that emerges when discussing baldness in Japan, is its association with Buddhist priesthood.

That is to say, baldness makes people think of monks.

The association is so strong, that the Japanese word for monk, “Bōzu” (坊主) evolved over time to refer to anyone with a shaved head.

Krillin, a cosplay favorite among bald DBZ fans, is actually a legitimate monk.

Having been raised in a fictional temple that seems to mirror the real life Shaolin Monastery, Krillin shaves his head as part of his devotion to his practice.

In other words, one of anime’s most recognizable bald men is not actually bald at all.

This fact however, does not make Krillin immune to jokes about his smooth scalp. His name itself is a play on the Japanese word for chestnut, "Kuri" (栗), referencing the shape of his bald head.

When teased by Goku about being bald, Krillin quickly corrects him, stating that he simply shaves his head like any great martial artist should.

Goku is reminded of this point years later, when Krillin grows his hair out after finally settling down with his (android) wife.

This change led Redditors to speculate that the return of Krillin's hair implies the end of his monk lifestyle, specifically - the end of his celibacy.

2. Jet Black (Cowboy Bebop)

In one of the most celebrated anime series of all time, Jet Black appears as a kind of Shakespearean foil to Cowboy Bebop’s main character, Spike Spiegel.

While Spike alternates between youthful exuberance and indifference, Jet serves to balance his bounty hunting partner by adopting an approach of mature austerity.

But despite presenting as the “wise old man” of the show, Jet is only 36 years old.

His physical appearance works to highlight his implied life experience, appearing as the only bald character under the age of 90 ( see “Chessmaster Hex”).

Unlike Krillin, Jet is never explicitly teased for being bald.

Jet’s baldness was more arguably chosen by the creators to strengthen his role as a kind of “big brother”, or father figure to the other characters.

In this way, Jet's baldness stands out as never once being used for comic relief - a fate many other bald anime characters are unable to escape.

3. Ikkaku Madarame (Bleach)

Immediately recognizable amongst a cast of swordsmen with luxurious locks, Ikkaku Madarame stands out as the baldest character of Bleach.

Like Krillin, Ikkaku’s baldness becomes a running gag - but to a much greater extent. This makes Ikkaku the first character we see on the receiving end of creative insults aimed at bald men.

Some of these names are low-hanging fruit, like "Pachinko Ball" (パチンコ玉), while others are more intricate and obscure, like "Tsururin" (ツルリン), referring to the onomatopoeic sound for a smooth surface (ツルツル).

Ikkaku is also the first bald character we see written as an object of a desire by a non-android woman. The bald lieutenant is portrayed as being exceptionally handsome and alluring in the eyes of at least one female character who declares that she prefers men with shaved heads.

This particular encounter lead to Ikkaku being accused of deceiving her, based on the grounds that he was simply “Hage” (ハゲ) and thereby not truly “Bōzu” (坊主).

Ikkaku took great offense to the accusation, as “Hage” is one of the rudest words used to describe baldness in Japanese. The distinction between “Hage” and “Bozu” is a concept that appears in both anime and real life in Japan.

For a western equivalent, this is the same sentiment expressed by Adam Levine in a tweet vehemently denying that his bald head was a result of anything beyond his own decisions.

4. Keith Shadis (Attack on Titan)

Attack on Titan has grown to be an incredibly popular anime, both in Japan and overseas, in spite of some seriously gratuitous bloodshed. The gripping storylines and compelling characters exist in a world of such extreme violence, that even seasoned anime enjoyers will admit is difficult to watch at times.

The show is almost completely devoid of humor, and the bald head of the Former Survey Corps Commander is no exception.

Keith Shadis begins the series with a full head of hair, and through years of unimaginable trauma and suffering, ends up completely bald.

His hair loss is thereby similar to Jet’s, as it’s meant to highlight an implied difficult past. Keith’s baldness provides the “weathered” appearance of a man who’s been through an awful lot.

As the only Survey Corps Commander to ever survive a term as the unit’s leader, Keith’s character is inherently meant to evoke respect.

Once transferred into a training role, much of this respect is earned through fear. Keith's character evolves into something resembling a western drill sergeant, with his bald head further emphasizing the contrast between himself and the youthfully naïve recruits.

5. Saitama (One Punch Man)

As the protagonist of One Punch Man, Saitama is perhaps the first bald leading man in anime history.

And while the entirety of the show is satirical in nature, don’t let the gags and goofs fool you.

The first season of One Punch Man received widespread praise for its animation and storytelling, earning itself a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating upon its release. Its overwhelmingly positive reception has certainly earned the series a right to be taken seriously.

Saitama's origin story is deliberately humorous and simple, translated as "I trained so hard my hair fell out.” The result of this training imbibed Saitama with the power to defeat any opponent with a single punch - hence the name “One Punch Man.”

Yet despite being the single most powerful entity on earth, Saitama remains plagued by feelings of inadequacy and ostracisation.

In a world where heroes exist within a rigid bureaucratic structure, registered as members of a centralized association, Saitama stands out as an outsider. As a newcomer, Saitama must prove himself among the elite heroes who already hold high-ranking positions within the organization.

Despite his incredible power, he remains haunted by his low rank, his absence of a clever origin story, and of course, his baldness.

Like Ikakku, Saitama’s hair loss exists as a recurring joke throughout the series. The bald hero is subject to repeated insults and name-calling. Saitama is even told by his own disciple that he could “draw his face in 20 seconds.”

However, Saitama is not always driven to anger by comments made on his appearance. He often responds with a kind of stoic indifference, the same attitude which frustrates his opponents to no end.

It’s further suggested that Saitama at least partially embraces the idea of being a bald hero - as he’s seen sporting a “HAGE” branded T-shirt, and referring to other bald men as “stealing his look.”

These examples of accepting his baldness help shape Saitama's overall disposition into something previously unseen in the world of anime.

Final thoughts:

It’s entirely possible that all of the above ideas are completely false.

Each of the characters examined were created by men with full heads of hair. Therefore, it is just as likely that all of them were made bald solely for stylistic and humorous purposes.

However, I prefer to believe that these bald anime characters were created to intentionally defy stereotypes, and challenge the notion that baldness is something to be stigmatized.

Because bald or not, we are all seeking validation in a world that values appearances.

Like these heroes, we should embrace our individuality and celebrate the unique qualities that make us who we are, whether it's our hair or lack thereof.

Let these bald anime heroes serve as a reminder that true strength and character come from within. And let us find inspiration in their journeys of self-acceptance and resilience, as we continue on the journeys our own.