Figure 1.--The children at this Japanese schools wear kneesocks and what may be long stockings or tights. -A reader suggested that the the photograph was taken in 1951, but a cilor photograph bsuggests the 1970s.

We are not sure about Jaoanese boy's hosiery in the early 20th century. We know that long stockings were worn in cold weather. After World war II, Japanese boys commonly wore long stockings, especially during cool weather. An example is a younger boy in 1947. They were replaced by tights in the 1950s, although we are not sure about the precise chronology. The photograph here may have been taken in 1951, although we are not sure. A reader writes, "The boy in the front row, fourth from the right, looks as though he were wearing tights with his short pants. But if the photo was actually taken in 1951, I think they must be white long stockings rather than tights since tights didn't become available for children until about 1957. I think we can tell the boys from the girls in this photo from the long skirts of the girls that tend to cover their knees when they are seated whereas the boys, wearing shorts, have their knees visible. This school didn't seem to care whether the boys and girls wore knee socks or long stockings so long as they were white. Very useful photo, to bad we dont have a definitive date." Kneesocks were also popular. Japanese boys often wore white socks, both ankle socks and kneesocks. Tube socks caught on very big in Japan during the late 1970s, reaching a peak of popularity in the mid-80s when the great majority of boys out of uniform wore very short shorts and tube socks, often with even more elaborate stripes than were true in the States. Even boys in school uniforms wore striped tube socks at schools that had no sock uniform requirement. Other than blue jeans (resisted by many schools and many parents), that was the first piece of American boys fashion to catch on big in Japan. Other American styles were to follow in its wake--the baggy casual shorts. In fact, Japanese boys have hung on to tube socks and still wear them with the modern knee length shorts--it looks rather strange in comparison to how Japanese boys used to dress.

Long Stockings

We know that long stockings were worn in cold weather. They may have been worn for formality to a limited exrent, but cold weather was a primarily reason. As far as cwe knoe, long stockings were not wirn before the 20th century when children wire traditional garments. This is because when Jaoanese boys began wearing Western garments (early-20th century). Many of the younger boys commonly wore short pants all year round. And as northern areas of Japan can get quite cold in winter, long stockings were an obvious choice. Long stockings were a very common Japanese hosiery type before the Pacific War (1941-45). After the War, Japanese boys and girls continued wearing long stockings in the cold weather months, even more necessaey as shorter cut shorts became more fashionable. An example is a younger boy in 1947. Long stockings began going out of style in the late-1950s when tights were introduced. Both Japanese boys and girls began eearing tights rather than nlong stickings and still wear tights during the winter. It is a little tricky differentiating between long stockings and tights in the photographic record, especially if the short pants are long. But after the early-60s, the children are all almost always wearing tights rather than long stockings. Tus as we think the school portrait here was taken in the 1970s, we believe the chikdren not vwearing knee socks are wearing tights rather than nlkong stockings. Long stockings were worn by both boys and girls. The basic difference was that boys stopped wearing shorts at about the time they finished primary school (6th frade, 12 years old) while girls continued wearuing skirts. Thus age conventiins varies based on gender. With tights and even greater age differencual develooed with boys than had been the case with long stockings.

Tights

Long stockings were replaced by tights in the 1950s, although we are not sure about the precise chronology. The photograph here may have been taken in 1951, although we are not sure. A reader writes, "The boy in the front row, fourth from the right, looks as though he were wearing tights with his short pants. But if the photo was actually taken in 1951, I think they must be white long stockings rather than tights since tights didn't become available for children until about 1957. I think we can tell the boys from the girls in this photo from the long skirts of the girls that tend to cover their knees when they are seated whereas the boys, wearing shorts, have their knees visible. This school didn't seem to care whether the boys and girls wore knee socks or long stockings so long as they were white. Very useful photo, to bad we dont have a definitive date."

Knee Socks

We do not see many Japanese children wearing knee socks in the early 20th century. We have found a few examples, such as two identified brothers in the 1930s. But we have not found many. Knee socks become much more popular after World War II, especially by the 1960s. At this time, knee socks begin to become very popular. Japanese boys often wore white socks, both ankle socks and kneesocks. Tube socks caught on very big in Japan during the late 1970s, reaching a peak of popularity in the mid-80s when the great majority of boys out of uniform wore very short shorts and tube socks, often with even more elaborate stripes than were true in the States. Even boys in school uniforms wore striped tube socks at schools that had no sock uniform requirement. Other than blue jeans (resisted by many schools and many parents), that was the first piece of American boys fashion to catch on big in Japan. Other American styles were to follow in its wake--the baggy casual shorts. In fact, Japanese boys have hung on to tube socks and still wear them with the modern knee length shorts--it looks rather strange in comparison to how Japanese boys used to dress.

Ankle Socks

Ankle socks are the mot common hosiert now worn by Japanese boys. Of course we can only be sure about this when the boys are wearin short pants. But there is no reason to believe that boys wering long pants would wear knee socks, long stockings, or tights.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Japanese pages:
[Return to the Main Japanese garment page]
[Short pants suits] [School uniforms] [Monarchy] [Youth groups] [Department store catalogs] [Music recitals] [Japanese choirs]

Created: 6:22 PM 8/4/2006
Last updated: 9:23 AM 12/5/2020