The name and shape of this hairstyle is meant to be a pun on both the Japanese Babylon mollusk and the spinning top toy made from that mollusk called the “baigoma” (貝独楽). The first syllable, “bai,” is a known abbreviated reference to both objects. This hairstyle was popular from the mid-18th century to the Meiji era.

    Just like the earlier version of this hairstyle, the name and shape are meant to be a pun on both the Japanese Babylon mollusk and the spinning top toy made from that mollusk called the “baigoma” (貝独楽). The first syllable, “bai,” is a known abbreviated reference to both objects. This later, more ornate version was popular from the mid-18th century to the Meiji era.

    Just like the earlier version of this hairstyle, the name and shape is meant to be a pun on both the Japanese Babylon mollusk and the spinning top toy made from that mollusk called the “baigoma” (貝独楽). The first syllable, “bai,” is a known abbreviated reference to both objects. This later, more ornate version was popular from the mid-18th century to the Meiji era.