Figure 1.--Most Japanese junior and senior high school students wear a uniform based on a 19th century Prussian 19th century military-styled school uniform. Priary school children that wear unifrms generally wear uniforms styled on English uniforms and European clothing popular after World War II. Only a few primary schools wear Prussian military styles. This Japanese school, for example, has Prussian styled caps.

The Prussians appeared to have had an impact on school uniforms in Japan. Japanese boys in the late 19th century began wearing a school uniform based on the military styled Prussian school uniform. Here we have very little historical informaton. Thesubject of school uniforms in Germanyand other European countries is a topic that is still poorly understood by HBC and which we hope to persue in greater detail as our site develops. We believe the Japanese introduced this uniform after the unification of Germany (1870). Even after unification, however, the different German states (Landen) continued to have significant authority in many areas, such as educaion. Thus even after unification, there continued to be a Prussian school system. We know very little about that uniform in the 19th century, but believe the uniform was adoptedby Japan for boys. (Interestingly an English sailor outfit was chosen for the girls.) These styles have proven extremly persistent in Japan. They continue to be the primary uniforms worn in Japanese junior and senior high schools. Some scools have turned to more British looking uniforms, but the Prussian style is still the most common. We do not know of any other country influenced by the Germans, but interstingly the Soviet boys' school uniform looked somewhat similar.

Prussian School Uniform

Here we have very little historical informaton. Thesubject of school uniforms in Germanyand other European countries is a topic that is still poorly understood by HBC and which we hope to persue in greater detail as our site develops. We believe the Japanese introduced this uniform after the unification of Germany (1870). Even after unification, however, the different German states (Landen) continued to have significant authority in many areas, such as educaion. Thus even after unification, there continued to be a Prussian school system. We have little information on the schol uniforms worn by Prussian stdents. We note, however, that in the late 19th century that it was not just Prussian school childrebn that wore military-styled uniforms in the late 19th century.

Countries Influenced

ThePrussian school uniform does not seem to have been very influential. It did have a major impact on Japanese school uniforms.

Japan

The Prussians appeared to have had an impact on school uniforms in Japan. Japanese boys in the late 19th century began wearing a school uniform based on the military styled Prussian school uniform. (Interestingly an English sailor outfit was chosen for the girls.) These styles have proven extremly persistent in Japan. They continue to be the primary uniforms worn in Japanese junior and senior high schools. Some scools have turned to more British looking uniforms, but the Prussian style is still the most common.

Other German states

Prussia and Austria were the two major German states before unification in 1870. We are unsure at this time how schoolwear styles in Austria and Prussia influenced school wear and unifrms in other German states.

Soviet Union

We do not know of any other country influenced by the Germans, but interestingly the Soviet boys' school uniform looked somewhat similar. We do not yet have, however, details on the history behind Soviet school uniforms.

Created: January 17, 2003
Last updated: January 17, 20002