JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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In an OECD survey of 36 nations on people's perceptions of their living conditions, Japan ranked 21st in terms of quality of life; Australia, Norway and the U.S. were the top 3. What do you think of that?
( 12 )
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The Fukuoka mayor is banning public servants from drinking alcohol for a month; the Osaka mayor has declared war on tattoos on civil servants. What do you think of all this?
( 21 )
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Why do you think Facebook's stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut?
( 13 )
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Which sport, when played well, do you think is the most exciting to watch?
( 62 )
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What's the difference between an average burger and a great one?
( 12 )
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- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
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- National Relief/Substitute Teacher - summer start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥275,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month
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- 営業パーソン
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tochigi
- Salary: ¥240,000 ~ ¥350,000 / Month Negotiable
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95 Comments
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0
Monkeyz
Outdated and obviously required by pervy principals.
My hometown's Catholic school basically requires the same uniform for boys and girls. Polo shirt and khaki pants. I think they can wear skirts if they really want to, but it's not required. Not sure why Japanese girls can't have a pants option so they're not freezing their butts off in the middle of winter. I see more and more girls wearing sweatpants under their skirts on the way to and from school, but you just know that in unheated classrooms they're putting bare legs on frozen chairs. Brrrrr ...
0
Zenny11
Don't see the need for them in public schools(Jr High Schools).
But private schools can have them if they want.
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alladin
I think they should all just wear blue jeans and a polo shirt to school. It is much easier and much more warmer in the winter time.
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Sarge
The wearing of the formal black uniforms on the boys with sneakers looks dumb. If they have to wear the black uniforms, they should have to wear black dress shoes.
"Not sure why Japanese girls can't have a pants option so they're not freezing their butts off in the middle of winter"
You've got to be kidding. If the girls wore pants, they wouldn't be able to show off their bare legs!
0
Sarge
alladin - Polo shirts are warm?
0
Jkanda
Makes me laugh when someone says, that this school uniform was desiggned by this designer, or some even give a liitle favoration to the uniform when selecting the school for their kid. Once my friend and I were invited for dinner by a nice old couple to a posh place. I was shocked when my friend asked me if she should get her daughter to wear the new school uniform to the occasion.Uniform was a status symbol?
The best scene is when the girls ride their bikes with their skirts rolled up to cover their bare minimum. How healthy is that?
0
pumpkin31526
School uniforms instil a role of disciplin and respect....something sadly lacking in todays society.....dress everyone in jeans and tshirts with anachic slogans and what do you get!
0
WhiteyRocks
pumpkin31526, pretty much summed it up! Look at America and Australia. Pff this shouldn`t even be a topic for debate. Luckily, Japan knows this and the school uniform is here to stay!
0
porter
Japan's seifuku are modeled after the military - that says it all really. Besides that, I've always thought the shorts in winter for boys is not nice and mini-skirts for young girls makes them show too much, if they don't want to show.
Go for freedom of expression - foster creativity not conformity. (you can have discipline and creativity at the same time)
0
Bazza
Japan without uniforms? Unthinkable!
0
papasmurfinjapan
I think uniforms in general are a good idea. I grew up in Australia, and had to wear a butt-ugly uniform. Japanese ones, by contrast, are quite stylish, though perhaps impractical. I also agree with Sarge's comment though. If they are going to wear a uniform, at least make the shoes part of the uniform too. White sneakers on a black uniform is just wrong.
My son is in kindergarten, and the only difference between his winter uniform and summer uniform is the hat and a cheap polyester cardigan. I think it's crazy that little kids are running round in shorts when it is -2 degrees outside... but I don't know, maybe that makes them stronger... I sure hope so.
0
Papigiulio
Agree with pumpkin
0
sarahsuz25
As a high school exchange student, I liked the uniform. It was nice not having to think about what to wear everyday.
As a parent, I'm not so keen on the elementary school uniforms, because I think young kids should be dressed warmer in the winter (our prefecture has shorts for boys year-round, no heat in the classrooms.) Older kids and teenagers are fine, but little kids should be dressed appropriately for the weather.
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Zenny11
sarajshuz25.
No public primary school in ward uses Uniforms, similar for the wards around. The kids from the private schools that have Uniforms look cold though.
0
kawachi
I think they're fine for when they go to school on days where they have to attend classes but it makes no sense (to me) that they have to wear them when they go to school for clubs, etc.
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Jkanda
What if many parents cannot afford to pay for them? Just like how Kimono is not preferred due to high maintenance to preserve.
Exposing certain parts of your body to extreme weathers is not that healthy. It takes its toll when the person ages.When older wearing UV cut this and UV cut that is not going to help that much.
0
cleo
Pros - Kids don't have to worry about what to wear every day, there's no fashionista one-upmanship, there's a sense of discipline and order, when kids on their way to or from school act delinquently local residents/cops know which school to complain to (this was explained to me, seriously, by a head teacher)
Cons - Wearing the same clothes every day is unhygienic and instills a sense of 'whaddeva' in the kids, all these 'designer' uniforms put a huge strain on the family budget (have two kids born three years apart and you have huge outgoings when they enter junior high and senior high), looking exactly the same as everyone else strips kids of individuality.
I'm in favour of a dress code rather than a set uniform, ie kids can wear what they like within reason, the definition of reason to be set by the school board and the PTA and the rule applied reasonably.
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Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land
@Pumpkin
Freedom of expression?
I'm against uniforms, basically, although I can see some good points of them, such as they are an equalizing force between rich kids and poor kids. But, at the very least, they should be updated. Get rid of the Prussian navy uniform and try someing like a blazer and tie. Girls should definitely be wearing pants in the winter.
0
NambanOnigiri
You get the
on way to the conventuniforms and also theon the way to soaplanduniforms. Everyone the same is a good principle in school, easy for security, (the man who cycles around Fukuoka in his girls school uniform is easy to distinguish), prevents bullying about clothing. Win Win. Not sure about the military get up of the boys jackets. My only wish is that they wouldnt wear them everyday, all day, hygiene issues. To the girls - if youve got to hold books infront and behind your skirt - it`s way too short.0
Smorkian
@StrangerinaStrangeLand
Not really high on the priority list for schools. The students are there to learn, they have the rest of the day and their holiday time to be themselves.
I think the uniforms are alright. I think school uniforms in general are a great idea - wish my school had them as a kid.
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kamonochoumei
The black military "gakuran" uniforms are inappropriate for postwar Japan. But I have no objections to a jacket and tie for boys and skirt below the knee for girls. Slacks and blazers would be fine for girls, too, and would thwart perverts. Rules that don't allow girls to wear tights under their skirts in winter are ridiculous.
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afroengineer
I'm not against uniforms as long as it is decent.They also should teach those girls that a respectful woman should respect her body enough to not show it to the whole world.What a great proof of love to show ur nice legs to only the precious one u love. You don't need to force them u need to explain them that they dont need to roll their skirts to look kawaii or i dont know what.This is how i did with my gf and she totally agreed.I can proudly say that what i can see many men cant see it.Of course some people may think as long as THERE(i dont know if gt mods allowed sexual related biological terms) and the breasts are hidden but...anyway i should stop here before i got off topic.
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sarahsuz25
I think you'll find that many places outside of Tokyo have kids in uniforms starting in elementary, and some places even in kindergarten. I don't know of any public elementary schools here in Shikoku that don't require uniforms--here it's the private schools that have looser dress codes.
0
ppayne
I think they're terrible. Girls should take them off immediately.
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shogun36
Uniforms are a good system in theory, but there needs to be some major changes.
The biggest change would need to be to wear temperature appropriate wear.
I mean they have that rule (I don't know if it's all schools) where everyone has to have the winter uniform until the end of May or they have to wear jackets or blazers as soon as October rolls around.
Maybe that made sense a long time ago, but now it's hot as hell in early April and it still is not cold until late November. Why would you want the students to melt from the heat in the classrooms when they don't need to?
Don't even get me started with boys having to wear slacks in the summer. Get real, let them wear shorts or at least the P.E. uniforms. I guess we have to wait until a mass amount of students die from heat related issues before there is a change.
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Smorkian
Is this Saudi Arabia? This sort of thinking is usually only found in Theocracies and with the people from these places. Whether or not it's appropriate for the young girls to wear their skirts of their uniforms short or not isn't the issue - that's not how the uniform is designed to be worn. Adult women can certainly, and should certainly, wear what they want however they want.
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herefornow
pumpkin -- Do you live in Japan? Through grade school I might agree with you. But the junior high and high school kids here basically trash the uniform to look cool. The guys have their pants pulled down past their butt-crack and dragging on the ground, the the girls hike the skirts up as far as they can. There's no "disciplin and the respect". The kids see them as the phony veneer aimed at satisfying the old folks here and the obcessive need to maitain "tradition" that they are.
0
borscht
At night, when the boys are walking down dark roads (obviously not in Tokyo), those white shoes are the only clue to drivers that there is a human on the roadway. Is the Ministry of Education out to cull male high school students? Black at night?
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Zenny11
Most school-uniforms for the ladies(I have seen) have the skirt mid-thigh(longer) or around knee-length or longer for winter.
Anything shorter than that is an actual costume or a skirt that been rolled up to attract attention, etc and yes many do the fake hide with books, etc.
As for kids not taking care of clothing, don't matter what they wear.
Maybe the ladies can chime in here: Are pants truly warmer than a longish skirt?
0
Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land
@Smorkian
The main purpose of the schools is not to educate, but is to create Japanese citizens. Since Japanese society doesn't emphasize individual expression, uniforms are the norm.
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afroengineer
@Smorkian, theocracy or not i think that way and many people think the same way.its not a matter of religion but a matter of how u see a woman's body and its value.now everybody is free to think the way he wants.if u think u r ok with ur gf(in case u r a man, sorry if u r not)wearing short stuff well thats ur point of view but in my case i dont feel comfortable with the fact that people i cared of dressed that way.I PERSONALLY think that a woman and a man should dress decently.I have my opinion on people dressing short but i dont have any rights to tell them to be decent.As u mentioned they are adult and are free to do what they want.
0
Foxie
I am for school uniforms. It is ridiculous how much money have to spend in Europe on their kids designer fashion. If you don't wear a specific design, you become an outcast. With uniforms, there are no such problems. As for the skirts in winter, if you wear woolen tights under them, they are much warmer than pants. I prefer wearing skirts to pants be it winter or summer.
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Zenny11
Agree with Fishy.
Uniforms take away a lot of the competition, look at the teens going for Enjo-kōsai (援助交際) so they can be part of a group/clique and extrapolate that into the class-room.
Recall the long socks fad and watched the school-girls walk into the ladies-room at a mall to come out a bit later with hiked up skirts(much shortened), loose socks glued to their legs, etc.
Heck, I am a Biker and guess what company policy was against leather and club-colours(had to wear a suit, etc) so I got changed at work as do many people that cycle to work, etc.
Up to the girls how warm they want to be on the way to school.
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cleo
Except that some schools do actually object to kids wearing non-regulation coats, woolly tights etc going to and from school.
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lesgrande
Initiates some students into fetishism and sexuality as power. I remember when I taught high school in Suginami-ku, girls competed with each other over how racy yet within the rules they could be.
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whiskeysour
Where to start hmmmmmmmm, K-Preschool kids wearing shorts in the middle of winter. These so called " Private Schools " who can't afford seasonal uniforms for the school.
Don't call yourself a " Private School " if you don't have seasonal apparel for your students. How much does tailored navy / black pants cost ?
Private Schools in japan are 3rd world at best when it comes to uniform standard.
Kids get influenza from wearing shorts !!!!
2) junior h.s. PE uniforms ( seasonal uniform ) Jogging pants winter time / shorts summer time
3) senior h.s.
I don't really care about the skirts But let the girls wear something like jeans or jogging pants to & from school Optional for the girls also casual jackets or coats for everyone
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sarahsuz25
Yes! Our (elem. and jr high) girls are not allowed to wear their skirts much longer than knee-length (full-length uniform skirts are not allowed anywhere that I've ever heard of) and they are not allowed to wear tights or anything other than regulation ankle socks on the way to or from school. (They can wear gym shorts, etc., underneath, as long as it doesn't show lower than the hem of the skirt.) Pants would obviously be warmer as they would cover more skin.
I don't have a problem with uniforms or skirts in general; I just have a problem with requiring weather-inappropriate clothing for children. My children's (public) school restricts everything including coats, hats, scarves, gloves, etc. on the way to and from school, not just in the classroom. Shorts are fine when they're running in gym class, but not when they're sitting still in a classroom with no heat in the winter.
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METinTokyo
The problem with uniforms is that they aren't uniform. People, perhaps women more than men at that age will always make adjustments to suit. Some high schools in Japan (private) are famous for their uniforms and women compete fiercely to get accepted so they can wear the prescribed clothing as it as much a status symbol as the designer clothes they will no doubt seek out in later life.
The good thing is that during the "loose socks" phase it did manage to rescue an industrial belt dressing company from bankruptcy.
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Mittsu
They are very popular.
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Smorkian
@whiskeysour
What does that even mean? I don't see how a country's economic development relates to their school uniforms, even as a joke.
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Monkeyz
The types of skirts the girls wear are loose, pleated skirts that allow a lot of air to circulate under and through. Then you have all the girls who have to roll/hem their skirts up to "fit in." Any pair of pants is going to be warmer than that. The only way you're going to get skirts being necessarily warmer is if they're pretty much ankle-length and very heavy material. I recommend the guys on here try wearing a kilt on a windy day in winter.
Sure, if you can wear thick tights or leggings it's a lot better. Problem is that they aren't allowed to do that. I've seen a few uniforms that allow tights. It's rare, though. And as someone else said, there are often rules about what you can wear on your way to and from school. Not sure if those girls wearing track pants are violating any rules, but they might be.
I'm not anti-skirt. I wear skirts nearly every day. But yeah, seasonally appropriate clothing is way better. (And what on earth is the deal with elementary uniforms? The girls are wearing skirts practically to their ankles while the little boys are wearing shorts up to their crotches! Who came up with that?? I think I'm gravitating more toward pervy principals again ...)
0
bicultural
herefornow, you do have a point, but once they go through the gates they pull their pants up and the girls let their skirts down. Or else they get in trouble with the teachers. Once school's out, it's back to low-riding and hiked up skirts. Kids are the same everywhere : they always try to toe the line and act rebellious while avoiding getting into serious trouble.
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Smorkian
Very true. I was visiting my family last year and my mother made mention to her sister about how short the schoolgirls' skirts are in Japan. My aunt (in her 60s) said it was the same way with her and her friends when they were in school - jack their skirts way up the second they left campus.
I don't think the Japanese kids and their uniforms are so terribly different than kids anywhere.
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hurryharry1
The most recent types are just remains of the bubble era where private schools held fashion shows and many dumb superficial moms chose schools by the uniform....(sigh)...
I know some pubic schools that require uniforms charged at obcene amounts of money for low quality items: A pair of polyester PE shorts you can find at Uniqlo for 1,000 is priced at 4,000-5,000 because it has the school logo on it. 8,000 yen for a plaid skirt with matching vest (5,000 yen) you CAN ONLY order from the school...the list goes on...ha...I was forgetting the horrible school bag priced at 8,000...(I've bought top of the line Eastpak backpacks for less than that) and this is a public school supported by tax payers...
0
mrskit
are the girls allowed to wear haramaki under the skirts??
0
ukguyjp
Generally they're ok, except for the Prussian military- style uniforms which make boys look like little soldiers. The sexualization of teen girls in Japanese society bothers me, and that's not altogether unconnected with school uniforms.
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marcels
I think generally speaking they're pretty good atleast you don,t have to worry about what they wear everyday...
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dolphingirl
Definitely need to be updated and should offer a variety of options for mix and match so that girls can wear pants rather than skirts all the time and elementary school boys can wear pants instead of shorts. More practical and warmer! It would also give the students a chance to personalize their uniform a bit so that not everyone looked exactly the same. Different colours might be nice too. Blue and black is pretty boring. And it's absolutely absurd that a school have any say on what a student wears to and from school.
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whiskeysour
smork man - yes the public and private school uniforms are worse than 3rd world countries. I can say this because i've worked as a teacher in several different countries. Do you feel sad about my comments ?
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seesaw2
Nothing wrong them the uniforms. Only concern is the girls fold their skirt waists too much to make the skirts look shorter. And then they complain of the oyaji chikan in the trains.
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Smorkian
I don't really care about your comments; they just made no sense. I am not a teacher nor do I have kids so the whole issue is pretty much theoretical for me.
FWIW I think the 3rd world countries I've been to have much more uniformity in their uniforms than what i've seen in Japan.
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MrDarryl
What in the world does that statement mean? Children need guidance and this is one way of making sure they understand that fact. I grew up in America in a school that made me wear a uniform through grade school and then I had a dress code from then until graduation from High School. Being unique, in a situation like that, comes from personality and not from dress. I think the students learn how to focus more on what's important when they can't focus on outward appearance as much. If someone is in to fashion they would definitely alter their appearance with their hair and with accessories, but the uniform would still apply, thus teaching the child about working within the guidelines which is a valuable life lesson and not absurd.
I do feel that some things should be addressed if students are uncomfortable in their uniforms because of the climate and I'm sure exceptions are made in these cases.
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freedomski
Although I enjoy reading and agree with most of your posts on different topics I have to disagree here. A dress-code would costs time and energy by the school staff which would be better spend on teaching and put together a well-balanced lunch menu.
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freedomski
I come from the Netherlands where no school uniforms are required but since my emigration to Japan and see my kids growing up in uniforms is something I had different views on over time.
The shorts during K-preschool seemed cruel to me at first. But nowadays I believe it makes the body stronger. Getting used to the cold in winter wearing shorts helps to develop a stronger blood circulation. As long as they don't get wet by rain it's alright with me. Catching the flue once a year or so isn't so bad either.
My kids in elementary school don't wear uniforms and I'm very happy with that. Just like it was during my own school time in the 70's and 80's.
As for junior high and h.s. I like the pos about uniforms, not so much the supposedly disciplinary effect but more the focus can be more on teaching and it helps to limit the distraction kids can and will get from getting in line with fashion.
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Fadamor
Uniforms are best at removing one major distraction from education. A strict uniform code can eliminate a lot of the distraction that personal clothing choices and makeup can inject into the school environment.
I've worked in a high school where some kids were wearing their pants so low they had to walk like a penguin with their legs splayed out to keep them from falling around their ankles, while other kids were in full-on goth mode. Still others tried to walk around with midriff-revealing tops (those, at least, fell afoul of what dress codes they DID have). Requiring a set uniform for everyone eliminates all those distractions.
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gregoms
Uniforms do not remove the distraction. Girls and Boys in my high school spend an incredible amount of time trying to "skirt" the rules, and sew little hidden decals and patches here and there. Uniforms are not economical. Our school charges about ¥70,000 for a uniform, plus the bag. The quality is low, and comes from Takashimaya. At present there is nothing that a school can do to really enforce regulations on dress code, and parents do not discipline or guide their kids, so private schools now spend lots of time apologizing to parents for not being able to raise their kids. School populations are declining, schools closing and this means that admin-types have to suck up to parents to keep them from changing schools. Uniforms do not matter at all, as far as discipline, uniformity, or increasing students' scholastic experience. It is, however, a good way for the schools and the dept. stores to make a bunch of easy money.
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goddog
Girls look cute, and the guys look like slobs.
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PenelopePitstop
Same here (everything was grey including the nickers!!!!) but at least it was age-appropriate and it didn't appeal to perverts! Japanese sailor-moon uniforms are cute on 5 year-olds but quite ridiculous on 16 year-olds... On the whole though, uniforms are great as an equalizer of status but an added cost for families who are already paying high school fees, so I'm on the fence!
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cleo
How so? A reasonable dress code means simply the kids dress reasonably. There is no need for the school staff to spend any time and energy checking that the kids are adhering to the code - simply deal with the ones who are obviously out of line. That would take a whole lot less time and energy than checking that they're all wearing the correct uniform, with the right logo on the socks, the right school crest on the pocket, the exact right shade of knickers, etc. The stricter the rules are the easier it is, and the greater incentive the kids have, to break them. A reasonable dress code takes less time to police and gives the teaching staff more time to spend teaching.
I doubt the dinner-ladies have much to do with what the kids wear in either case.....
0
pamelot
The fabric is very itchy. All season wool would be a better alternative to the acrylic fibers used now...
Uniforms are part of society in Japan, for both good and bad, street clothes won't do...
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hurryharry1
This is the kind of blind robbery I'm talking about. Where I'm from the government does whatever possible to lower the prices of any education-related materials. For example, PCs and laptops are not taxed, neither are books or stationary. The government also checks on price averages and makes sure all school uniforms are sold at approved stores at reasonable prices. They even create a "school basket" (uniforms, textbooks and books and basic stationary) for low income families and give subsidies or tax cuts to stores selling them. I once bought a short-sleeve,hand-made white cotton elementary school shirt as a souvenir for my friend's kid for about $1!!!
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TheBigRiceBowl
A dress code helps the parents as well, as it decreases the variety of clothing they have to buy for their "fashion-conscious" kids. I have heard many Japanese parents say this. They also say that work uniforms help to reduce personal clothing costs as well. When I was in school, boys were not allowed to wear shorts outside of gym class. That was our school rule on fashion.
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hurryharry1
Back home, many schools are leaning towards "dress codes" where guidelines are given (say, blue bottom, sky blue top, black / blue socks, black shoes, blue sweater...) rather than set uniforms and parents put together the outfit however they can. Again, these are schools, even private pricey ones, that simply got tired of being milked by uniform manufacturers or the good ole Takashimaya-type joints.
At my school, we order in bulk and sell to parents at lowest price possible. We only charge for the patch parents sew onto the uniform themselves. No point in bleeding parents when, realistically, a 7 year old will pour paint, ink or their juice on the shirt at any time.
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whiskeysour
Also I would like to comment about the backpack carrying case (¥70000). I would rather buy a ¥2000 yen SpongeBob backpack that will last one year for my kid. Than jump on the bandwagon and purchase a leather backpack. The schools should give the parents freedom to choose.
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hurryharry1
Once I was told by an innocent Japanese mom that the "Randoseru" is made from leather and hard materials, so that justifies the obscene price and that, MOST IMPORTANTLY, it'd protect the books if the kid got hit by a car...(LOL)
If my kid got hit by a car, the math book is the last thing I'd worry about!! "Whew....the kid's in bad shape, but, Praise the Lord, the recorder didn't get broken..." Hilarious.
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BurakuminDes
Many public schools up in my city at least are switching to casual wear for HS students - not a bad thing, considering the expense of uniforms!
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bicultural
whiskeysour, those bags you claim cost 70,000 yen are selling for 9,800 in stores now.
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Zenny11
bicultural.
Not quiet true some schools insist on a special shops, etc.
My local school asks me to get stuff for my son from a local sports-shop, said that their stuff is better quality and better priced than the local Ito-Yokado. Current school don't mind stuff bought at Ito and shop caters for the school in exchange with a dedicated section
Said that for sports-clothing regardless where we buy only the sports-shop carries the iron-on emblem(60yen). So most simply buy there as it is more convenient.
Also seen some HS here going to casual for Uniforms
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Fadamor
Question: If they're hidden, how do they cause a distraction in the classroom? I don't give a flying-farg if Suzy sewed a teddy bear patch on the inside of her blazer. There won't be other students trying to look at it in class because it is HIDDEN, ne?
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cwhite
bah, uniforms are too much a part of modern Japanese culture to remove them. Just look at all the anime, managa, music and movies that portray the uniform in many different way. i.e kill bill, sailor moon, sukebann deka, all the idols over the ages, battle royale, etc...
As for the too showing too much, that just comes down to the individual. variations include the culotte or you just wear hot pants, a sport wear and what not. Not a big deal.
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cwhite
just to add, you can't enforce fashion. You do what you can within the limits of the dress code. With school uniforms you at least down play the limits of fashion and have kids spend too much time deciding what to wear. A uniform just makes it easier as a whole with less distraction. What you do within the realms of that is up to the imagination of the kid. One would think you could subsidize school uniforms considering the sheer volume.
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krisallenation
They're EXPENSIVE!!
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Fadamor
I've said it before on this site, but when it comes to the girl's uniform I don't understand why they don't just go with a pants suit. It solves most of the lecher-bait aspects of the uniform (though there will always be chikan who don't care HOW many layers are between them and the girl's body) as well as eliminating some of the work the staff would do to enforce the uniform rules. (No skirt hem-lines to be judging as too short) For the Summer months, just go with a lightweight fabric and for the Winter months go with a heavier fabric.
This seems like common sense to me, but I don't live there. Is there some reason my idea is unreasonable?
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Zenny11
Fadamor.
Many schools use very different Uniforms for winter and summer. Most of the schools/students I have seen use knee-length skirts for summer and full-length for winter plus an added sweater. Colours, design, etc also vary greatly.
Lots of the pics you see online aren't actually school-uniforms but sailor costumes that girls often wear or school uniforms with rolled up skirts.
For many private and other up-market schools the Uniform is like a status-symbol, identifying or prestige mark.
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Fadamor
One of the videos used in my Japanese textbook takes you around the Shibuya train station. In one clip there's three girls in uniform crossing the street where those 4 billion crosswalks go in every which direction: skirts going down to about mid-thigh. Not quite a miniskirt but certainly no where near the knee. A pants suit can't have the waistband rolled up to reveal more leg like a skirt can. But what do I know? I'm just a guy.
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MrDarryl
I am shocked that people have to spend more for a uniform than regular clothes. This makes no sense. I know ALL of my school gear was cheaper at the school even with the logos. This SAVES money in the long run. If a school is charging too much for the crappy quality duds, then parents should complain. It should not cost more to wear a uniform. You should only have to buy two of each item and be able to get away with it. Buying non-uniform clothing usually costs more because kids don't want to wear two out fits all year round. ¥70,000 is rediculous for any uniform. You can get a custom tailored suit for that. There has to be an alternative. There are so many clthing stores in Japan with very reasonable prices. I don't know how a school can justify that price. $700 American for a kids uniform = BS.
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jacquii
It has cost me over $1200AUD to outfit my 2 high school girls for uniforms this year - & that is the bare minimum. The school is not an "elite" school but is a Catholic school which strictly enforces the uniform rules right down to hair accessories. I will spand another $300-400AUD before winter when they require a school blazer & sweater. Even though it does cost quite a bit I would prefer to spend the money on uniforms rather than on "plain clothes", I think a uniform sends a message of community & stops a bit of bullying especially from the girls.
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xuanzhang
Makes no difference. These days it might be better to dress in plain clothes. Japanese kids need some creativity.
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KSB1978
Back in the days, things like these actually did instill some solidarity amongst the students. Now days, with the over protective ways that Japan has been infected with (from the Western world of crazy political correctness gone wrong), it doesn't really matter. Kids are going to grow up being little brats anyway.
And the Randoseru is selling for 9800yens. That is TRUE despite the fact that some schools may not allow the use of them. There is no disputing the fact that it is. I'm sure even if the school specified shops, they would not expel your kids from the school for having a wrong one... What if you were a "tenkousei"? Expect you to buy a new one?
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miamum
Our old ward in Tokyo (Chuo) had uniforms for elementary school. Our new one (Koto) doesn`t. I was outraged at the cost of the uniform in Chuo - only from one supplier (a little mom & pop shop) and altogther just over 20,000 yen.
I wondered at the time how people cope who can`t afford it. Back in the UK when my daughter went to primary school, the uniform was white/blue polo shirt (pack of two for 600 yen), grey or navy pants or skirt (gain about 1000 yen from the local supermarket) and a sweater with the school logo (from the school directly, about 1200 yen).
The other thing that bothered us about chuo ku
s uniform policy was the shorts for boys in Winter - it was ridiculous! At least where we are now when my boys start school they can wear long pants. Its a mystery to me how the Japanese can be so paranoid about catching cold/flu, and then send out little kids in the cold in no coat and short shorts. OR do they know something everybody else doesn`t?0
limboinjapan
When I first came to Japan I was not for the idea of uniforms but since then I have had a change of heart.
As a single parent I have found that having done the no uniform elementary school and then the uniform J/S high school, uniforms turned out to be a god send no arguments as to what to wear each morning.
The price was a bit of a shock but being a single parent on low income I was reimbursed for the most part.
I find that some school need to change and move away from the military style uniforms and for those that still have elementary school uniforms the short pants for boys all year long is a bit strange looking as well as a bit abusive on cold days.
The one thing that I have noticed is that back in my home country many public schools are moving back to uniforms ( usually just a shirt with logo and the same colour slacks for all) because of convenience for the parents and to avoid other problem like peer pressure and gang colours.
I once asked a city official why the uniforms could not be simpler and cheaper and his reply was interesting, he said:
" The city covers the cost for those without the means and those with the means pay this way all the children have nice good quality uniforms and in some cases the uniform is the first and only nice thing they own, but no one is the wiser and in the event these children must attend an event, a funeral or even a wedding they and their parents do not have to worry that they do not have appropriate clothing"
This was a bit of and eye opener for me, I have had to attend several funerals and weddings here in Japan and it never dawned on me that without the school uniform I would have definitely been in a bind to find something for the children to wear.
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cwhite
limboinjapan > I guess that makes sense. Even if you can't afford uniforms at least the gov an supply the same ones and keep every kid on an equal playing field. After they graduate and get thrown into society is when the real fun starts.
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Tamarama
I think they are very much deeply ingrained into the cultural and social fabric of Japanese life, and I think for the most part, they look great on the kids.
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SousukeSagara
School Uniforms are a great idea. With the harassment that many of our youth face in school today this is one less thing that they can be singled out for. Plus it eliminates the age old problem of trying to figure out what to wear.
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Pixilated
I don't think it makes any objective sense to have girls and boys wear different uniforms. However, I doubt they would ever change. Nowadays, I think the main reasons for keeping the girl's uniforms the way they are is because men find them to be a fetishy sexual symbol; women envy the uniforms as symbols of youth that bring back wistful memories of their own school days; and girls like them because they enjoy the cute and desirable status that said uniform bestows upon them. In short, nobody in Japan wants to change the uniforms because everybody loves them. Heck, the image of the "genki" and "kawaii" sailor-suited school uniform high school girl has become a symbol of Japan.
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miamum
I like the idea of uniforms for the kids because it equalises everyone, and it looks good too - smart and a sense of belonging to the school. But I wish they would update the uniforms so they are more practical and modern-looking, and and I wish they weren`t quite so expensive.
Limbo - that was a really interesting post, thank you. I have wondered how people on low incomes cope with the costs, and I had no idea that here it is also considered normal to wear a school uniform to a wedding/funeral, and of course, many children don`t have smart outfits for those occasions. Having read your post it all makes perfect sense now.
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limboinjapan
Pixilated:" I think the main reasons for keeping the girl's uniforms the way they are is because men find them to be a fetishy sexual symbol;" and "the image of the "genki" and "kawaii" sailor-suited school uniform high school girl has become a symbol of Japan. "
My daughter's Junior High had different uniforms for boys and girls but the girls could wear either skirt or slacks all but 2 (my daughter being one of the 2) chose to wear the skirt.
Most public schools have or are moving away from the sailor style uniforms in favour of a blazer skirt/slacks combo and when it come to the skirts they are now enforcing knee length or longer, no more short short skirts in public schools and many are now encouraging the girls to wear tights instead of socks.
This is Japan and yes things are slow to change but things are changing, not long ago it would have been unthinkable to even offer a choice of skirt or slacks to girls, not all schools are doing it and it depends on the ward or city but if a complaint is made and it is a public school then due to legal precedent the school is more or less obligated to offer a choice, you won't make any friends if you are the one making the request but you should win, it was just such a challenge that made my children's school offer a choice and now it is just a normal thing.
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killdamessenger
expensive. a racket industry for more than 50 years.
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HonestDictator
Growing up in the US I'd say that school uniforms does take out some of the competitive cliches in school life, without uniforms it was a stark contrast of whether you were rich(or at least middle class) or poor (I couldn't afford those $300 Jordans back in my day and my single mum could only afford payless shoe store pro-wings). All children required to wear uniforms and in school shoes simplifies a lot of things. No, "You don't have such and such brand" or as was mentioned before gang colors etc which I forgot to mention was prevailant in middle through high schools in the US.
@Pixelated, so I can hardly agree with you that keeping the school uniforms is only because of perverse peoples fetishes. There are a lot of other factors at play here that must be taken into consideration.
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miamum
I would add that since my daughter started the elementary school with no school uniform, DAddy has been getting her dressed in the morning because I am up all night with baby #3 who is currently working hard on the world lack-of-sleep record!
As a consequence: she goes off in the morning in some really...interesting...concoctions. EG grey sparkly leggings, bright pink socks (pulled up to knee OVER leggings), ballet tutu skirt, baby pink cropped cardigan over a spotty vest and a red and black striped hoodie. I call it "TV show" style, ie how many shapes, colours and forms can you get in one place at a time.
I am finding myself wishing for a uniform again, but meanwhile, I am going to start laying out her clothes for her the night before, before she gets beaten up. Or asked to pose for a glitzy kids magazine.
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Jandals
I have no problem with the girls rolling their skirts up.
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himehentai
I think uniforms are wonderful. I think It almost definitely minimizes bullying ( of course bullying still exists in Japanese schools, but I think It would be SO much worse if there was no uniform) and makes it easy for the parents every morning.
But just on a side note ... What I don't understand is why people have lots of kids and then complain that they are expensive? I mean .. surely if you are thinking of conceiving number 2, there must be a moment in your mind where you stop to think "Where will we get the money for this childs hoikuen/school uniform/university degree?" etc.
Unfortunately I would love lots of kids, but It seems selfish if we are always scrimping by, recycling school uniforms and worrying about money. Thats why Im only having one. Just my ¥2 here ..
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cleo
Or becomes the school trend-setter? :-) - In which case it might be the other mums beating you up, not the other kids beating your daughter up.
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HonestDictator
That was funny Cleo xD.
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Michaelis
As parent from two schoolboys and a schoolgirl, we think that school uniforms are a very good thing, as they give the children the identification to their group of age and gives them self confidence in their environment. It is imortant that the school uniforms policy does not change the rules, what the uniform should look like. This are traditional as well as educational aspects, which are prooved since long. Boys up to the age of 13 should stay in short shorts the year round without any exeption. At freezing temperatures knee socks could be worn. This clothing style is healthy and good for toughening, for disciplin and character building and gives the boys a lot of energy and feedom in mooving. Girls have to wear short skirts without any exception, but with knee socks in winter. Thights and knees should be bare. This enables the children to stand uncomfortable situations more easely and to become tough and hard. The children look good with their uniforms at all seasons as thes are practical for every event and do prevent parents from discussions what to wear. We never had the feeling that our children are suffering by wearing their uniforms.
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