Facial hair is not as popular in Japanese culture as in some other countries, but many new characters are appearing nowadays. Characters with facial hair give a more aesthetically pleasing and mature look. Moreover, they leave a long-lasting impression on the viewers.
Most anime characters with beards have an aura of Shifu around them. Their beard represents their high authority or years of experience. Many of them have been mentors of the main characters or play a vital role in the story. So, without further ado, let’s start with our list of some of the best anime characters with beards.
1. Monkey D. Garp from One Piece
Garp is a beloved character among many One Piece fans. Monkey D. Garp holds a very high position in the Navy. He was also offered the promotion of the admiral. But, every time, he refused to get promoted.
Garp has a French-cut beard, which goes well with his loyal personality and high moral standards. The beard gives him an imposing look, which shows not only his strength but also his complex past and life experiences.
There are many amazing characters with beards in the world of One Piece. Still, Garp managed to stand out from them because of his distinctive personality and relationship with key figures of One Piece, such as Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Roger.
2. Vincent Volaju from Cowboy Bebop
Vincent Volaju is a veteran of the Titan War. But now he works as a skilled bounty hunter.
Vincent has a sleek and well-maintained beard like a gentleman. It creates a striking contrast with his rugged look and adds more to his mysterious persona. He has a very dark past that holds many secrets. He was a test subject of a military project during the Titan War. After that, he also lived as a terrorist. He gave up his life in pursuit of heaven.
Vincent had a lonely childhood and a traumatic experience due to the nanomachines in the past. You can also say that his beard removes all the sadness from his heart and prevents it from appearing on his face.
3. Yamamoto Genryusai from Bleach
Only a few can compete with the beard of this old man from the Bleach. His beard reminds me of Professor Dumbledore’s beard. It’s not confirmed in the series, but Yamamaoto’s long beard and eyebrows may have some kind of connection to his status as the strongest shinigami. Moreover, no one has been able to snatch this title from him for a millennium.
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai is the captain commander of 13 squads. His long white beard shows the wisdom and experience he has gained over the years as a shinigami.
Although he doesn’t fight that much from the aura he emanates, we can say that this old man must not be trifled with. Furthermore, Yamamoto’s beard is not the only one that creates the aura of a wise man; he also boasts an impressive mustache and eyebrows, which complement his beard.
4. Van Hohenheim from Fullmetal Alchemist
Next on the list is Van Hohenheim from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He is an immortal alchemist whose character is shrouded in mystery, and little information about him is available.
A beard can say a lot about a person’s personality; characters with messy beards tend to be lazy or scientist-type persons, and characters with unkempt and messy beards are often associated with wild or meatheads. From the look at his beard, we can say that Hohenheim is meticulous when caring for his beard. It shows that he is a very calm and composed person.
Hohenheim has a full, rounded beard, which he keeps as a goatee. His sophisticated look tells us about the wisdom and life experiences he has garnered through life.
We can see his beard turning white from a dark color during his long lifetime. He has been a part of many crucial events in history, such as the creation of the Philosopher’s Stone. His beard undoubtedly suits his title as the most powerful and immortal alchemist in history.
5. Iskander from the Fate series
It’s almost impossible to avoid the imposing aura of this king from the Fate series. He is no less intimidating than Garp, but Iskander’s breed gives him the look of a wild and untamed beast.
Iskander has a huge build, and his full bearded look complements his muscular and fearless look. His red beard and matching red clothes hint at his royal background.
Iskander has gained many fans, and his beard has played a large part in this. Can you even imagine how Iskander would look without his beard?
6. Danjuro Tobita (Gentle) from My Hero Academia
Fans of My Hero Academia might remember him as “Gentle.” Honestly speaking, Danjuro Tobita’s character reminds me of the sophisticated butler from the anime. He would have made a great career as a butler if he didn’t turn to the evil side.
This villain creates a refined experience with his short beard and curved mustache, which does not connect to the beard. His hair is slicked towards the back, but some of it makes a curve on the front side.
He wears a dark purple jacket with enlarged coattails and collars, loose pants with pinstripes, gloves, cuffs, and a wooly scarf. Moreover, to complement his sophisticated looks, he also keeps a weapon that matches his looks: a cane.
With his calm and composed demeanor, well-maintained facial hair, and attire, he creates an image of a perfect gentleman.
7. Sarutobi Asuma from Naruto
Sarutobi Asuma is the son of the third Hokage. He is a very compassionate person who is very gentle towards his students. He is the mentor of Team 10. He has feelings for Kurenai but can’t bring himself out and say it to her, and his students also tease him for this.
Asuma has a laid-back attitude, which matches that of one of his students, Nara Shikamaru. Today, if Shikamaru is here as the right hand of the Hokage, then it’s probably because of Asumas’s constant support and protection.
Coming on to his beard, Asuma keeps a short and well-trimmed beard. Asuma’s beard resonates well with his nature and role as a mentor; he will always be an unforgettable existence in the world of Naruto.
8. Nakiri Senzaemon from Food Wars
This old man from the food wars is famous for his cloth explosion scenes. He has a gray-colored spiky beard with a mustache. He has a card on his right eye, which starts from his forehead and reaches to his cheeks.
It’s unknown how he got this scar, but it gives him an intimidating look. But he is not always like this, as he often has a warm smile and a comical expression.
So, his distinctive personality and intimidating look set him apart from other characters of the food wars.
9. Isaac Netero from Hunter X Hunter
It looks like many old men are going to make appearances on this list today. Isaac Netero is the chairman of the Hunters Association. He habitually rubs his beard when talking or thinking about something.
He looks like a frail old man, but he is not weak; he may be the most powerful Nen user out there. The scene where he fights with chimes is one of the most memorable scenes from Hunter X Hunter.
Netero’s long white beard represents his wisdom and experience. He has a long white beard, which flows in some scenes. It shows that animators have noticed his beard when animating his scenes.
During the series, we also see his beard changing when he comes out of the seclusion for his fight against the King of Chimeras, Merum. He cut his mustache and beard, which might be a little detailed, but it shows how seriously he took this fight.
If I had to compare him with someone else, Netero would be similar to Genryusai Yamamoto, the captain-commander from Bleach. Both of them hold high positions in their respective organizations.
Both look like frail old men from the outside, but their frail bodies hide immeasurable powers inside them. Their long white beard represents their long lifespan and authoritative positions in the anime.
10. Lucius Artorius Castus, also known as Askeladd from Vinland Saga
Askeladd is the Captain of a group of Viking Pirates. Askeladd is his nickname, and it means ‘One who is covered in ash’; his real name is Lucius Artorius Castus, given to him by his late mother.
He doesn’t have a significant beard, but his beard sets him apart from his underlings. It reflects his character well because he is a wise man. He isn’t the strongest, but he is a brilliant tactician. The difference between his true nature and looks creates a mysterious air around him. His beard also indicates his true origin.
Askeladd was the name given to him by people around him because, as a child, he was always covered in ash while working. But he is not a normal Viking warrior; he is the descendant of Welsh royalty. He is half-Danish and half-Welsh.
Even as he fought alongside Danish soldiers, protecting the Welsh from enemies was his utmost priority. However, no one around him knew his true origin. He only mentioned this before cutting the head of King Sweyn and called himself the “True King of Britannia.”
11. Jet Black – Cowboy Bebop
Jet Black is the Captain of the spaceship Bebop. He has a well-groomed chinstrap beard, which goes according to the shape of his jawline. Underneath his lips, there is a small pointy patch. His beard shows his disciplined nature and chaotic world of bounty hunters.
During the Ganymede Elegy episode, we glimpse his past life as an ISSP officer. This explains why his beard is never overgrown, messy, or unkempt, as he comes from a bounty hunter profession.
12. Ichibei Hyosube – Bleach
Ichibei Hyousube is one of the oldest characters from Bleach. He is also one of the strongest people in the series. If You have seen Bleach, you will be familiar with the words Zanpakutō, Bankai, and Shikai. Well, Ichibei Hyosube is the person who gave them this name, along with everything that existed in Soul Society.
Many characters in this series have beards, but none have a beard, which is close to the sheer volume of Ichibei’s beard. He has a long and bushy beard, and along with his giant body and bald head, he becomes a shinigami who creates fear in his target’s hearts just by standing in front of them.
13. Shimon Muran/Solomon Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
There are many anime that are based on card games. But none of them came close to Yu-Gi-Oh, Which still holds the title of best card game today. Shimon Muran also has another name, Solomon Muto. Solomon is Yugi’s grandfather, and he gave him the Millennium puzzle as a present.
Shimon used to be a member of Pharaoh Atem’s court, and before Shada became the guardian of Millenium Key, it was in Shimon’s care; he was the original wielder of the key.
If not for his beard, he wouldn’t have the rugged look of an adventurer, as he was exploring the Valley of Kings during his younger days. However, as he grew older, his beard grew thicker and gray, so now he looks like a wise sage, but his acts make him look like a silly and caring grandpa.
14. Gou Koga (Bleach)
Koga is one of those who become completely unrecognizable after removing their beard. If he removed his beard, no one would take him seriously; with his beard and hair like that, he looks like someone who belongs to those Japanese biker gangs.
When talking about his appearance, Koga has a tall stature and muscular build. His sideburns are so thick that it resembles a part of his beard. He also has a mustache, which further improves his full-bearded look.
He may look intimidating, but he also has a caring nature, which can be seen when caring for Cain.
15. Chaa (Angel Beats!)
Chaa is the weapon supplier and guild leader. He uses his memories of his guild members from when they were alive to make weapons out of dirt. Before his death, Chaa had a wife whom he loved very much. He left everything behind just to be with her. After coming to the afterlife, she reminded him of his lover when he saw Yuri.
Chaa wears an outfit similar to a mechanic, and his messy hair and overgrown, unkempt beard show his dedication to his work.
16. Ohnoki (Naruto)
Ohnoki was the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure (Village Hidden in Rocks). He is a short man with a triangle-shaped beard and a thick mustache, and he has Chonmage-style hair. He has a long beard. He is short in height and looks like any old sage would look in anime.
Ohnoki was very stubborn and didn’t respect the younger generation very much. When he first appeared in Naruto, he was seen as a harsh old man. But he was strong and did well in the Fourth Great Ninja War. He is old enough to be the only one who has seen Madara as a child.
However, after his retirement, he adopted an easy-going attitude. He realized the mistakes that he had made in the past and felt the need to correct them.
17. Hades (Fairy Tail)
Hades was the second master of the Fairy Tail Guild and one of the founding members of the guild. He’s originally known as Precht and suddenly reappeared as the Master of a guild called Grimoire Heart.
Hades is a tall, old man with a very long beard that reaches his waist. Even though he is named after the Greek god Hades, his looks match more to the Odin from Norse mythology. He has long white hair and a big mustache. He wears an eye patch on his right eye and a horned helmet.
He is extraordinarily powerful. However, he felt sad when facing members of his former guild.
18. Ox-King – Dragon Ball
Ox-King is the father of Chi-Chi, the father-in-law of one of the most powerful men in the universe, named Goku. He was also known as the King of Fire Mountain and had one of the coolest-looking beards in the anime.
He is always seen wearing a helmet with two curved horns and spectacles. Despite being a kind and caring character, he is very strong. He has trained many great fighters under him, including his daughter.
19. Joseph Joestar – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
For Joseph, his beard acts as a sign of his journey from a cocky young hero to an experienced adult. It shows his adventures throughout his life, facing superhuman enemies.
Joseph Joestar has a gray beard that is well-combed. Still, this beard doesn’t stop him from his habit of tricking others. He is known as sly and cunning. We saw this during his fight against Pillar Men when he was in his prime and later when he met his grandson Jotaro Kujo to guide him against Stand users.
