Shaguma
The Shaguma was a type of headgear worn by the officers of the Imperial Japanese Army troops in the Boshin War. The headgear was quite peculiar, being a sort of wig composed of long, dyed yak hair and held in place by a chin-strap.
', Yamaji Motoharu. From the left in the middle row: Tani Shigeki, Tani Tateki, Yamada Kiyokado, Yoshimoto Sukekatsu. From the left in the top row: Kataoka Masumitsu, Manabe Masayoshi, Nishiyama Sakae, Kitamura Shigeyori
The "Red bear" wigs indicate officers from Tosa, the "White bear" wigs officers from Chōshū, and the "Black bear" wigs officers from Satsuma. However, the elite Jinshotai corps of Tosa were known to have worn the Shaguma as well.
Today, headgear similar to the historical Shaguma'' is also worn during processions such as the Gion Festival. Such headgear is sometimes thought to have been inspired by the "red hair" of the Dutch who landed in Nagasaki during the time of Sakoku.
