Figure 1.--Here we see a Japanese boy with his mother visiting a temple. He is wearing his school cap. Notice the short pants and long stockings. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the eraly-1950s. Click on the image to see the Japanese inscription.

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 we know, long stockings were not worn before the 20th century when children wore traditional garments. This is because it was when Japanese boys began wearing Western garments (early-20th century). This was especially the case in the cities where boys began wearing Western-styled clothing. This was often the case in the schools, but spread to be the stndard dress for children outside of school as well. lothing. Children from middle-class families might have traditionl outfis for special occassions, but generally wore Western garments. During the winter they would countinur wear short pants, but with long stockings. This continued through the 1940s and into the early-50s. HBC unfortunately has very limited information about pre-World War II Japan. 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. We are not sure yet, however, just precisely when this translation took place. In every country, long stockings were replaced by tights because they were so much more convenient and cumbersome stocking supporters were not needed. We know that tights proved popular in Japan, but at this time have very limited information on long stockings. We do note that well-made Japanese films with attention to costume accuracy often do show Jpanese boys wearing long stockings. One example is Mishima: My Life in Four Chapters. Long stockings began going out of style in the late-1950s when tights were introduced. Both Japanese boys and girls began wearing tights rather than long stockings 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. Thus as we think the school portrait here was taken in the 1970s, we believe the children not wearing knee socks are wearing tights rather than long 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 grade, 12 years old) while girls continued wearing skirts. Thus age conventions vary based on gender. With tights and even greater age differential developed with boys than had been the case with long stockings.

Conventions

We know that long stockings were worn in cold weather. They also seem to have been worn for formality to a limited exrent, but cold weather was a primarily reason. During the winter they would countinur wear short pants, but with long stockings.

Chronology

As far as we know, long stockings were not worn before the 20th century when children wore traditional garments. HBC unfortunately has very limited information about pre-World War II Japan. This is because it was when Japanese boys began wearing Western garments (early-20th century). This was especially the case in the cities where boys began wearing Western-styled clothing. After the Pacific War (1941-45), traditional dressed basically disappeared except for fancy kimonos worn for speciall occasions. Thus we continue to see boys eraring long syockings in in the post war era. And this included the period in which boys behan wrearing shorter-length shorts. This required very long-length stockings. This was the sitiuation through the 1950s. The photograph of the boy here was probably taken in the 1950s (figure 1). Long stockings began going out of style in the late-1950s when tights were introduced. They suddenly disappeared (early-1960s). This was because tights became available. We are not sure of the precise time line. Tights solved the problem of hiolding up the long stiockings. And thus were quick commercial siccess.

Usage

Western clothes were widely adopted at schools. Japanand the Philippines were the fiest non-Western countries to build a public school system. And help to spread Western dress for children, making Western styles the standard dress for children outside of school as well. Children from middle-class families might have traditionl outfis for special occassions, but generally wore Western garments. .

Ages

Many of the younger boys adopting Western clothing 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. This included primary age children. An example is a younger boy in 1947. The boy here looks to be about 13 years old (figure 1). Garadually the age of boys weating long stockings declined a bit to the younger primary ages, mostly boys younger than 10 yerats old. This was the situation when long stockings disappeared in the early 1960s. This was because tights became more popular.

Practicality

In every country, long stockings were replaced by tights because they were so much more convenient and cumbersome stocking supporters were not needed. We know that tights proved popular in Japan, but at this time have very limited information on long stockings.

Color

We do not have much information on the color of long stockings that the children wore. Long stockings disappeared before color photography was very common. Thus except for white we can not tell what color the stockings were. We see a lot of dark colored stockings. They were the most common. We are not sure if they were black or navy blue. Both show up similarly in black and white photographs. Because many schools had navy blue uniforms, we think navy blue stockings were the most common common. We see some white stockings. This is the one color we can be realtively sure about. There wee some light colors, but it is usually possible to tell if the stockings were white and not a light color. We believe that the white stockings were often used when dressiung up for some special event. We begin to see some light-colored stockings. We are not sure what color is involved, probably fawn and/or gray.

Movies

We do note that well-made Japanese films with attention to costume accuracy often do show Jpanese boys wearing long stockings. One example is Mishima: My Life in Four Chapters.

Gender

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 whuch for many boys was basically when the finished primary school (6th grade, 12 years old) while girls continued wearing skirts. Girls thus continued weearing long stockings into their teens. This was largely seasoinal, although some schools with uniforms cintinued to require them year round. When long stockings disappeared mamy of the same age, gender, and seasobnal conventions continued only with tights. And these conventiins continue today. Thus age conventions vary based on gender. With tights and even greater age differential developed with boys than had been the case with long stockings.

Photo Assessment

It is a little tricky differentiating between long stockings and tights in the photographic record, especially if the short pants are long. The most obvious indivtor is that long stockings are more likely to show wrinkles than tights. Chronology is another indicator. After the early-60s, the children are all almost always wearing tights rather than long stockings. Thus as we think the school portrait on the previous was taken in the 1970s, we believe the children not wearing knee socks are wearing tights rather than long stockings. ngs.

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Created: 6:30 PM 12/5/2020
Last updated: 9:22 AM 2/9/2021