Haruko Furumi, or better known among her customers as “Haru-chan,” may probably be the NMI’s longest-serving barber.
She said her shop has been on island “for 40 years.”
In an interview with Variety at her barber shop in Chalan Kanoa on Friday, Furumi said she first came to Saipan in 1970 and put up her own barber shop that year.
At the time, she says, her shop was the only barber shop around.
She said her shop was so busy during its heyday.
But now, the 83-year-old barber said, business has been so slow.
Born on March 13, 1929 in Naha, Okinawa, Furumi is the daughter of an Okinawan and Japanese parents.
She told Variety that she went to school and earned her barber’s diploma. She went to school for one year and then spent the next three years in internship.
Asked why she chose to pursue that in college, she said she just thought of doing it.
During her time, she said, it was rare to find female barbers.
At the age of 23, Furumi or Haru-chan to her customers, began her lifelong career in Naha City.
Since the day she started cutting hair for a living, she said she has been subscribing to a policy that every customer should be treated special.
In Japan, she said, haircut usually comes with shave and wash.
Asked about the rates during her time, Furumi said, she couldn’t remember anymore.
She said her shop in Okinawa had 16 chairs and was always busy as it was close to the American military base.
On Saipan, her barber shop has five chairs and was so busy before.
She said, she saw how her customers on Saipan grow, become adults, leave the island, and come back.
She said she felt happy whenever her customers visited her and shouted her name “Haru-chan! Haru-chan!”
Furumi has seen people come and go in the 60 years that she has been cutting hair.
Business may be slow but her shop remains open.
Her shop has not changed its schedule in years. She said it is still open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday.
Haruko’s Barber Shop is located on Beach Road near the Chalan Kanoa Post Office.
