Figure 1.--Here we see Japanese highschool students in 2005. These traditional uniforms are still the most commonly used styles in Japan.

Japanese boys in secondary schools, both intermediate/junior high schools have traditionally worn military style jackets and caps.  The uniform looks quite standard all over the country, but this is probably because there are only a few manufacturers.  There are some differences. It is an army-like uniform. The girls wear sailor suits, middy blouses and skirts.  Even more ifferebces exist in the compasrable sailor suits worn by the girls. There are quite a few minor stylistic details in the middy blouses, but the use of the sailor suit is quite common.  I don't know why a military style uniform became common for the boys and a sailor suit for girls.  The Menji reforms which began the modernization of modern Japan included educational reforms which created for the first time a modern school system. The chose a Prussian cadet uniform for the boys. Because they also admired Britain, especiaslly the Royal Navy, a sailor outfit was chosen for the girls. Of course at the time, British girls were ot wearing sailor outfits as school uniforms.

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Created: 10:03 PM 11/30/2005
Last updated: 10:03 PM 11/30/2005