Figure 1.--This Japanese boy is about to begin his first year of primary school. Mother is fitting him out in a suit for the school welcoming ceremony. Purchasing a new suit or school unform became a ritual for the occassion.

Japanese boys wore traditional clothes in the 19th century, except for a small number of boys mostly from well-to-do families in Tokyo and the other major cities. As a result, we do not see Jspnesev boys wearing most of the various fashions popular in the West during the 19th century. An exception here was ssailor duits, although this was more true for the girls than the boys. Japan began developing a modern school system, and many of the urban schools for girls adopted sailor outfits for a school uniform--basically an homage to the British Royal Navy. The adoption of Western styles acelerate somewhat after the turn of the 20th centutry, but only slowly. In the early 20th century as Japanese mothers began to shift to western-style clothes for their boys, mostly in the cities, few Japanese boys wore suits. As a result we do not see Japanese boys wearing the varied suit styles common in the West during those periods. We do not note boys wearing suits to any extent until after World War II (1939-45). At this time, Japanese children's clothes becomes much more westernized during the American occupation. This was not something that was imposed on Japan, but the result of Japanese fashion trends. Even so, Japanese boys do not wear suits nearly as commonly as American and European schools. Few Japanese are Christians where they would dress up each Sunday for church. We do see boys wearing suits to weddings. We also see boys wearing suits for special children's festivals. Some boys wore traditional dress, others wear suits. One of the most common reasons for buying a suit is when families apply to private schools to enroll their children and then also at the entrance ceremony. Boys also wore suits to public schools for special occassions. Most boys got new suits for their first day of school when they began First Grade. Suits are also sometimes worn by older boys when they graduate from primary schools as many schools did not have uniforms. Most of the boys, however, wear their new junior high school uniform for the graduation ceremony. For many years short pants suits were popular for pre-teen boys. We notice catalogs in the 2000s offereing tuxedos. We are not sure how common they were. Boys entering secondary schools did not get new suits as the schools almost all have uniforms.

Chronology

Japanese boys wore traditional clothes in the 19th century, except for a small number of boys mostly from well-to-do families in Tokyo and the other major cities. As a result, we do not see Jspnesev boys wearing most of the various fashions popular in the West during the 19th century. An exception here was sailor suits, although this was more true of the girls than the boys. Japan began developing a modern school system, and many of the urban schools for girls adopted sailor outfits for a school uniform--basically a homage to the British Royal Navy. The adoption of Western styles acelerate somewhat after the turn of the 20th century, but only slowly. In the early 20th century as Japanese mothers began to shift to western-style clothes for their boys, mostly in the cities, few Japanese boys wore suits. As a result we do not see Japanese boys wearing the varied suit styles common in the West during those periods. We do not npte boys wearing suits to any extent until after World War II (1939-45). At this time, Japanese children's clothes becomes much more westernized during the American occupation. This was not something that was imposed on Japan, but the result of Japanese fashion trends.

Prevalence

Japanese boys do not wear suits nearly as commonly as American and European schools. Few Japanese are Christians where they would dress up each Sunday for church. We do see boys wearing suits to weddings. We also see boys wearing suits for special children's festivals. Some boys wore traditional dress, others wear suits. One of the most common reasons for buying a suit is when families apply to private schools to enroll their children and then also at the entrance ceremony. Boys also wore suits to public schools for special occassions. Most boys got new suits for their first day of school when they began First Grade. Suits are also sometimes worn by older boys when they graduate from primary schools as many schools did not have uniforms. Most of the boys, however, wear their new junior high school uniform for the graduation ceremony.

Styles

We have noted Japanese boys wearing a range of suits. Few boys wore the styles popular in the 19th century because traditional garmenbts still dominated Japan throughout the 19th century. An exception was the sailor suit, although it was more worn by girls than boys--largely because the sailor style became a school uniform style. We see some younger Japanese boys wearing sailor suits in the early-20th century, but it never was a major style for school age boys as it was in Europe. As Western styles became more common in Japan, especially at schools, it was military-styled uniforms thst prevsailed. After World War II we see many more Japanese boys wearing standard sack suits and blazers. A factor here was Japan's tremendous economic success. Of course by the time Japanese boys began wearing suits more commonly, European and American boys began wearing suits less commonly as more casual styles were increasing in importance. Japanese boys never commonly wore suits. We primarily see them being worn at school or in school associated activities. For the most part Japanese boys wore single-breasted jackets. We see a few boys wearing double-breasted balazers, but more in the fashion magazines than in what we see in the photographic record. For many years short pants suits were popular for pre-teen boys. We notice catalogs in the 2000s offereing tuxedos. We are not sure how common they were. Boys entering secondary schools did not get new suits as the schools almost all have uniforms.

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Created: 5:52 PM 8/23/2010
Last updated: 10:22 PM 2/2/2020