He did it because he was proud of Japanese culture, however, he cut off the topknot in Chicago after his son Tomosada IWAKURA, who were studying in America, and others persuaded him that Japan would be insulted as an uncivilized country.
日本の文化に対して誇りを持っていたためであったがアメリカに留学していた子の岩倉具定らに「未開の国と侮りを受ける」と説得され、シカゴで断髪。