• "Fast, fast, so fast!"
  • "I laughed my head off. It's much faster than I could have ever imagined!"
  • "I have the impression they'll trim your hair perfectly with impressive skills!"
  • "Why is it so funny that it's just spinning at high speed? I can't stop laughing."

These were just some of the comments elicited by a video on Twitter posted by Esa エサ (@meat_stew), who enjoys taking photos of unusual spots, abandoned places, interesting architecture, cafes and hot springs.

The video shows the front of the ヘアーサロン城下 Shiroshita Hair Salon in 八戸市 Hachinohe, the second-largest city in Aomori Prefecture.

At first glance, it may look like any other small family-run barber shop or hair salon in Japan built in the Showa or early Heisei era.

But watch this video, and you'll soon understand why people find it funny...

The barber pole sign is spinning way too fast!

Compare it with the second barber pole sign on the left and the difference is clear.

According to Esa, the sign broke once, so the salon owner installed a motor purchased at a home improvement center, and it has been spinning at a tremendous speed ever since.

The hair salon has been introduced multiple times as "a barbershop that is too fast" on the TV Asahi variety show ナニコレ珍百景 nanikore chin hyakkei (literally, "rare sights that make you say: 'What's that?'"), and was even selected in the top 5 best spots on a special compilation episode.

Since it was already mentioned on the show in 2009, the sign was never "fixed" to normal speed. The owner is surely aware of the phenomenon and decided to turn his super speedy barber pole sign into a landmark. It must be famous in the local Hachinohe area!

You can visit it for yourself the next time you're in Hachinohe, and why not even get a shave and a haircut while you're at it.

  • Name: ヘアーサロン城下 Hair Salon Shiroshita
  • Address: 〒031-0072青森県八戸市城下4-5-9 | 4-5-9 Shiroshita, Hachinohe, Aomori Pref. 031-0072
  • Tel: 0178-437-349
  • Access: 本八戸駅 JR Hon-Hachinohe Sta.

By - grape Japan editorial staff.