Hachimaki

A hachimaki (鉢巻, "helmet scarf") is a headband with styles that came from Japan. They are usually made from red and white cloth. People wear them to show hard work, or to keep sweat from the eyes.

Takeru Kobayashi wearing hachimaki

History

Nobody is sure how hachimaki started. Most people say that Samurai wore them under their helmets for comfort.

Kamikaze pilots wore them before flying to their deaths.

Styles

Hachimaki are normally decorated with words, such as "Nippon Ichi" (日本一, "the best of Japan"), and with the rising sun between the kanji characters.