Octopus, red-brown with a white headband (hachimaki) with blue spots

The hachimaki is a Japanese head band often worn by workers or sport supporters. It is often white, red or white with some blue dots. Sometimes it bares a design like a rising sun.

The origin of the hachimaki is not clear. Today it expresses perseverance, efforts and hard work 'that makes you sweat'.

Octopuses are often represented with a hachimaki, especially to indicate a shop selling takoyaki (a kind of octopus round dumpling). Takoyaki cooks often wear a hachimaki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachimaki