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Japan is a highly urbanized country. Most children live in cities. In the morning and afternoon Japan's city streets are ful of energetic children walking to and from scohool. Primary schools are dotted all over Japan's cities. The children in primary school thus mostly walk to school. Because most primary children walk to school, there is a great concern with saftey, especially given the country's crowded city streets. Primary children because they walk to school often wear brightly colored caps as a saftey measure. This is the case at both schools with and without uniforms. There are also quite a number of rural and village school. These children do not face the same traffic dangers. Also they do not dress as fashionably as the urban children. We also mote images over time that provide a useful view of changing school fashions. We see Japanese children in the 1940s, for example, going to school with paper umbrellas. Secondary schools are much larger than primary schools and thus many children live beyond walking distnce. The children in the morning are rushing to school to get there in time. The pace in the afternoon is more leisurely. They may stop in stores along the way to get a treat. Most head right home to change out of their school clothes.
Japan is a highly urbanized country. Most children live in cities. In the morning and afternoon Japan's city streets are ful of energetic children walking to and from scohool. Primary schools are dotted all over Japan's cities. The children in primary school thus mostly walk to school. Because most primary children walk to school, there is a great concern with saftey, especially given the country's crowded city streets. Primary children because they walk to school often wear brightly colored caps as a saftey measure. This is the case at both schools with and without uniforms. There are also quite a number of rural and village school. These children do not face the same traffic dangers. Also they do not dress as fashionably as the urban children.
We also mote images over time that provide a useful view of changing school fashions. Japan in the early 20th century was still building its transportation infrastructure. Children usually had no way of getting to school other than walking. It was a little different for secondary-level childen, but relatively few children persued school after finishing primary school. As te century progressed there was a steady shift in population from the countryside to the cities as Japan industrialized. Before the World War II most children in cities wore uniforms to school, although very basic ones. Uniforms were less common in rural schools. After the War We see Japanese children in the 1940s, for example, going to school with paper umbrellas. Also uniforms were dropped at many, but not all primary schools. Japan after the War built a very modern transportation system, providing options for coming to school. This was mostly, however, for secondary-level children.
Almost all primary children walk to school. This is because primary schools are located in neigborhoods within walking distance. Children going to private schools often do not live close enough to walk, but the children gong to primary schools generally do. Secondary schools are much larger than primary schools and thus many children live beyond walking distnce. Numerous children do walk, but many secondary-level children have to use public transportation.
The children in the morning are rushing to school to get there in time. In densely populated Japan, most children have relatively short walks. As most walk, they can time the time needed fairly easily. The pace in the afternoon is more leisurely. They may stop in stores along the way to get a treat. There are all kinds of small shops located conveniently in most residential neigborhoods. So the children have lots to choose from, drinks, candy, and ice cream. We do not know if there are any special Japanese treats. The Japanese and other Asians eat a variety of items that Westerners see as a bit strange. We note items like dried squid. We are less sure about the children. We suspect that the children are more prone to the same standard sweet treats that Western children like. In addition to the many shops are all kinds of vending machines scattered virtually everywhere. Japan is a country well known for ubiquitous vending machines. They seems to be top of the list of the treats selected. This seems to be most common during warm weather. During the winter, the children are more pronr to scurry home where it is nice and warm. Most head right home to change out of their school clothes.
Because so many Japanese children walk to school, mew children have to be shown how to get to school. This includes children at the beginning of the year as well as children who move during the school year. Of course this is especially important for the younger children, nut even older children need a little help. Parents can help by walking the route with their children. Neighbors and new friends can help by walkig along with them. Many Japanese children walk to school in small groups. I fon't think that the schools play aole here, but perhaps Japanese readers can tell us more about this.
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