Quick Answer
What is a tsunokakushi?
A tsunokakushi is a white headpiece worn by the bride pulled back over the hair — leaving the face uncovered — with a shiromuku or uchikake. The name translates to "horn hider": it symbolizes the bride suppressing the "horns" of jealousy, ego and selfishness as she enters married life.
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Last updated:
What is a tsunokakushi?
Also called: tsuno kakushi, the bride's horn-hiding headpiece.
The symbolism behind the tsunokakushi is more pointed than most bridal accessories: the name literally means "horn hider," referencing the folk image of a jealous woman growing demon horns, and the headpiece is meant to show the bride tucking that impulse away as she becomes a wife. It is worn pulled back rather than draped forward, so — unlike the wataboshi — it does not obscure the bride's face.
What a tsunokakushi looks like and when it is worn
- •A band of white fabric worn across the top and back of the head, covering the traditional bunkin-takashimada hairstyle without hiding the face.
- •Often worn with the shiromuku for parts of the ceremony, or later with an uchikake for photos and the reception.
- •Distinct from the wataboshi, which is a larger hood that drapes forward and can partially conceal the face.
Planning notes
- •Confirm with the kimono rental house whether the tsunokakushi or the wataboshi is included, since packages sometimes offer only one.
- •The headpiece is worn over a specific traditional hairstyle — book a hairstylist experienced with Japanese bridal hair, not a generalist.
- •Because the face stays visible, this is often the preferred head covering for photo-heavy portions of the day.
Share the hair and styling schedule with vendors
Weddingkart lets you broadcast getting-ready timing to hairstylists, photographers and family so specialty items like the tsunokakushi are ready on cue.
See WhatsApp announcements →Frequently Asked Questions
What does tsunokakushi symbolize?
The name means "horn hider" — it symbolically represents the bride hiding the "horns" of jealousy, ego and selfishness as she enters married life, based on Japanese folklore imagery of a jealous woman growing demon horns.
What is the difference between tsunokakushi and wataboshi?
A tsunokakushi is worn pulled back over the head without covering the face, while a wataboshi is a larger hood that drapes forward and can partly obscure the face — they are not worn interchangeably in the same moment.
Is a tsunokakushi still worn at modern Japanese weddings?
Yes, for couples having a traditional or Shinto-influenced ceremony, though it is now more common as a rental item for a specific portion of the day rather than worn throughout.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated