Arisha Sokolova is a business graduate from Bulgaria who fell in love with Keneichi Tozawa from Japan, who also studied engineering in Bulgaria. Tozawa wanted to introduce her to his family after they became engaged.
As a result, Arisha flew to Japan to see his parents. While his aunts admired her beauty, everyone celebrated their engagement. They were particularly taken with her long blonde mane, which reached all the way to her hip. Even the men in the family spoke nicely to her, and Tozawa's father had drinks with her.
The only person she did connect with was her fiance's mother, Keneichi Azami, who was a strict woman who ran the onsen where they lived. She was a stickler for cleanliness and adherence to strict standards. She spoke little to her new daughter-in-law and sometimes ignored her because she was preoccupied with her work. After a few days, they had a traditional wedding and began their lives in Shibuya.
Tozawa was a busy man, so he excused Arisha that he will be away for a week due to some urgent work which he had to travel to Tokyo. But Arisha was pleased as got time to connect with everyone. As she was now the daughter of the Keneichi family, she was recruited to work in the onsen and connected with the staff and managed the accounts in the onsen.
One day, she was given a leave and she was asked to accompany her Mother-in-law, who too was in leave and both went out for shopping. She considered it a sign of acceptance, and in Arisha's opinion, if you can win over the mother then the jobs half done. The best thing was, it had been Azami' idea to go out together, and the offer had come out of the blue.
Arisha thought of going to see the city but when she met her mother-in-law Arisha who was well dressed up in her kimono had said to her that she had to go somewhere and would like her to join her. With nothing else planned, and uncertain as to where they were going, she happily agreed. It was an opportunity to win her blessing with her mother-in-law she thought.
As they drove along, Arisha was surprised to get the same attention as before of how little her mother-in-law spoke, as if she was pre-occupied. She remained pleasant enough, but not chatty as you might expect. Regardless, they were out shopping together and that is what mattered thought Arisha.
As she pondered on where they may begin their shopping trip, Arisha pulled over and parked the car unexpected. They hadn't reached the town centre yet, so there seemed no reason to park here.
"Where are we going?" Arisha asked.
"Just up the road next to a shrine, as there they don't have a parking,it's easier to park here." Azami replied.
The mother in law locked the car and the two of them proceeded to walk up the road.
"Will we be going into the town centre? It's just that Tozawa likes sweets and that I've been thinking of making them as I learnt from the kitchen staff, You can tell me what you think?" Arisha asked, desperate to start conversation again.
"Perhaps." The reply was as short as usual.
"It would be great if we could. I don't know how long it will be available for and I do really like it."
"We'll see."
They continued to walk along what appeared to be a residential street, no sign a malls or shopping centre for Arisha. She remained puzzled.
As they walked past a grocer's shop, Arisha started to slow as they reached the shrine and went to pray. Arisha was an atheist, so she didn't believe in religion but she did so to gain her mother-in-law's attention.
"You can explore the shrine while I meet the shrine monk to talk about the prayer which we will keep in coming month." said Azami
" Okay" said Arisha as she explored the shrine when suddenly she was called by her mother-in-law who was waiting near the gate. As she went, instead of walking to the car, she entered a forest where they're were steps
"In here Arisha"
Arisha looked puzzled and followed the woman up the stairs as they reached a small shop and Arisha looked into the shop in question. The sign across it said `something in Japanese which she couldn't understand. she couldn't see inside as the front door was made of wood which was sliding, and the front window were covered Only the reflection of from inside, and the `open' sign, indicated any presence of human existence.
Azami now slides the door, holding it open as she waited for Arisha to follow. She had no idea why they were entering the shop, but followed Iris inside.
If Arisha thought the outside looked uninviting, then the inside was enough to make her jaw drop. As she passed through the doorway, her eyes scanned the room. A long countertop ran across the back wall of the shop, inset with basin. In front of these stood one oldest-looking barber chair she had ever seen. They were very well worn, leather and chrome specimens. Behind them, just in front of the wall were long hair pinned to the wall and wigs work in mannequins head. There was a row of wooden chairs for waiting customers. Arisha was not surprised to see all the chairs were vacant.
The feature, which caught Arisha's eye most, was the shop was all retro with Japanese painting and gramaphone placed in the table as vinyl played slow Japanese orchestra next to a mirror. There was one large mirror in front the sink of the barber chair as you would expect tilted slightly downward. Indeed, Arisha concluded that she had come to a hair salon.
From one of the chair, a frail-looking woman came out of the beaded curtain. She was dressed in dark marron like kimono and had sleek combed hair. She walked next to them and turned to them as she bowed.
"To the Winds of flower, to the stream of the river, Katsumi Kejoro at your service"
Arisha was taken by surprise, seeing the polite greeting from the lady as she saw face to face and give her chills when she saw the woman's red eyes.
"Good evening, Miss Katsumi, my name is Keneichi Azami, I heard from the monk that you do hair and recieved many good compliments from clients who visited my onsen. it's nice to see you too. This is my daughter-in-law Arisha."
"It's a pleasure," the woman greeted her, "Lovely to meet you."
"Yeah, hi, it's nice to meet you too." Arisha replied, still puzzled as to what they were both doing there anyway.
"Please have a seat?" The woman asked as she escorted Azami to the chair.
"Yes." Came the reply from Azami as she slipped off her shawl, handing it to Azami, and went to sit in the barber's chair. Azami just stood there watching her mother-in-Law in part disbelief. Was she really about to have her hair cut here? She mumbled as Azami already had short hair, was she going to go bald.She smiled as a joke which she received stares from her mother-in-law.
"Please take a seat Miss, we won't be long." The woman advised her.
Arisha sat down on one of the wooden chairs, as the barber swung his cape over Azami as she whispered and instructed how her hair should be cut and started gathering it around her neck. Now she looked more closely at her mother-in-law. Azami could see that her hair was cut in a boy-ish-type way. She hadn't really paid attention to it before, but now it didn't seem that implausible that Azami would have her hair cut.
The Kejoro began cutting without talking and just concentrating on the hair. Arisha relaxed in her chair and cast her eyes around the shop. Through the mirror she could see Azami.. She kept catching her mother-in-law and the barberette looking at her through the reflections and, despite not a word about her being spoken, Arisha began to feel self-conscious.
Arisha turned her attentions to a pile of old magazines, on a nearby table. She browsed through the titles in English. The subject didn't interest her much, and she rapidly flicked through its pages, pausing only to stop at photographs of expensive cosmetics.
Abruptly interrupted by the pop of the hair clippers, as the woman tapered Azami's hair at the back and sides.
Arisha watched how carefully and precise she was, whilst still rambling on about the local parking restrictions. Then she wondered how the woman's business kept going. Nobody had entered the shop since they had arrived, nor did she look to have been rushed off her feet before their arrival. The Kejoro's shop wasn't in the best locality, and it's old-fashioned décor and appearance certainly didn't help matters.
As she puzzled over this, she noticed the woman holding up a small mirror through which her mother-in-law was examining the back of her head.
"How's this madam ?" the woman asked her.
"Fine ." A typically detailed answer thought Arisha.
The woman undid the cape and swung it to one side as the Mother-in-law stood up from the barber's chair. She handed her a paper tissue, which she took and rubbed around the back of her neck. The woman bowed as thanks and then flicked the cape quickly to shed the loose hair cuttings, before turning the barber chair around to face Arisha.
Azami without further adieu, walked towards Arisha and held her arm out as if to indicate the revolving chair.
"Up you get daughter-in-law." Azami said sternly.
Arisha, still sat in the wooden chair, looked at her mother-in-law with confusion.
"Come on , get up," Azami sounded more impatient this time, "take a seat."
Arisha could feel both pairs of eyes staring directly at her. She slowly rose to her feet.
"What do you mean?" She nervously asked.
"Go and be seated girl," Arisha's voiced remained stern, "come on."
Arisha felt her mother-in-law grasp her arm at the elbow and pull her towards the waiting chair.
"But I don't want my hair cut." Arisha protested.
"Nonsense!" Dismissed Azami as she let down Arisha hair as she removed the hair clip. Long tresses of her hair fell.
" You are having hair which is very difficult to handle. I was not sure to accept you when my son brought you here, now that you've married to our family. As you are the next main lady after Keneichi takes over the onsen business when we retire. I will not let my daughter in law have like this hair as its untidy and messy." she stated
"But.... I love my hair"
"No buts....You are having it cut whether you like it or not young lady!" With that, she forcibly pushed her into the barber's chair, which Azami then spun around to face the counter. The Kejoro looked at them and was told by Azami to cut her daughter-in-law's hair. She came close to Arisha and then began pumping the foot pedal, making the chair rise in jerky movements.
"Please Mother-in-law , I don't want my hair cut!" Arisha pleaded.
"Be quiet!, I have already asked Keneichi and he said it's okay, now no more execuses"
The Woman swung the cape over her as she had seen her do to Azami. Again, the Kejoro gathered it up and fastened it around her neck, before
pulling her shoulder-length blonde hair out from underneath it.
Arisha sat frozen in the chair, staring at her reflection in the facing mirror. She watched as the Kejoro picked up the comb and scissors before standing alongside her. She could feel her begin to comb through her locks. She was quite rough as her hair was full untangly and had many split ends, and her head jerked frequently.
"How would you like it cut ?" Asked the Kejoro.
Arisha's hair was truly her crowning glory, stylishly cut shoulder-length, and coloured with various subtle highlights. She was petrified watching the woman move around her, and now her anxiety grew to fever pitch as her mother-in-law stepped closer to reply.
"The same."
Again, her answer was short, but it's meaning was huge. Arisha felt a hot rush travel through her entire body as Azami spoke those words. Her gorgeous long hair, which beautifully framed her young face, had been sentenced to be sheared off by this barbertey. She immediately panicked.
"No, no you can't!" She screamed, as she tried to pull herself out of the barber's chair. Azami was strongly built and both her hands grasped her shoulders, and pulled her back into the chair. Her strength, for such a elderly woman, took Arisha by surprise.
"Shut up and stay still!" Azami shouted.
Arisha stopped struggling, stunned by her mother-in-law's response. Azami glared at her through the mirror.
"If you don't sit still young lady, I might tell to cut off all of your hair!" The mother added with a sinister tone.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want my hair cut – especially short." Arisha prayed that the mother would show some compassion.
"Well, that's too bad because short is precisely how we wants in this family!"
Arisha could see Azami take a seat behind her, wearing a satisfied look on her face. She now conceded that the battle was over and her mother-in-law was about to be the victor.
Arisha regained her composure and her tensed-up arms eased on the armrests.
"Okay then, I may start" The Kejoro announced.
Not a word was spoken as the woman resumed combing through Arisha's hair, before lifting up a section and inserting the blades of the scissors into it. Arisha watched her reflection in a dream-like state, as she watched the ten-inch length drop from her head, slide down the cape, and drop onto the floor.
Another section was lifted, and again the blades sliced through sending it on its way. She watched in her trance-like state, momentarily glancing over at Azami , who sweetly smiled back at her like the cat that got the cream. Tears rolled down her eyes as drips fell down the cape and her makeup was all ruined.
Now the Kejoro seemed relentless. Without any emotion zhe continued to hack Arisha's tresses away. The beautiful teenager was being transformed, in front of her own eyes, into a boy! The hair continued to rain down onto the cape. She could not prevent a tear falling as her bowed head viewed the highlighted clippings on her lap.
The woman returned to the counter. She placed down the scissors and comb, and lifted the hair clippers off the hook. The familiar pop followed by the constant humming. Arisha knew this was the final chapter of this horrible experience, while the Mother-in-law smirked through the mirror.
"Nice and short ." said Azami
"Certainly Miss." answered the Kejoro
Azami walked around her and cast Arisha another smug expression. The victory was hers to savour.
The clippers crunched into her remaining hair, sending more cuttings down onto the floor. Repeatedly, the woman made pass after pass until Arisha was left with a severe short back and sides.
"Better." Declared her Mother-in-law
The Mother-in-law didn't give Arisha the opportunity to view from behind . The Kejoro untied the cape, removed it and shook the hair from it. Arisha climbed out of the chair, feeling remarkably light-headed, to be met by a grinning Azami
"Why?" Arisha simply asked.
"It's for the family" She replied. She thanked the woman and headed for the door. Arisha followed her in the same puppy-like fashion as they left and as Azami closed the gate, she saw the Kejoro's eyes sparkled in red which gave her chills. As she was going and smirking about the haircut done to her daughter-in-law. As she walked passed the road, without noticing all of a sudden a car hit her making her fly and fall down as she roll down the cliff and hit her head in the stone.
Arisha called the ambulance in fear and by the time they came, the wicked Mother-in-law passed away. The hotel became cursed with losses and difficulties which made both she and her husband leave back to Bulgaria closing the onsen. Arisha was little relieved as she combed her her short grown hair at the dresser as she was seen from the window. The Kejoro looking at her walked with her parasol and disappeared in thin air.