Figure 1.--These Japanese boys attend the same private scholl. The primary-level boys wear grey shortpants. The secondaty-level boys wear the same gray-colored material, but long pants.

Modern Japanese schoolwear and school uniforms vary significantly depending on age. We do noy yet have historical information before World Wwar II, but age differention is notable after the War. Generally primary children wore short pants uniforms and then long pants for junior and senior hifh high school. Some junior high schools in the 1950s and 60s had short pants uniforms, but long pants were more common. Another major change was the shift to the Prussian-styled military uniform when school children began junior high school. Junior highs adopted the English sailor style. Most Japanese school children attend different schools for primary, junior high, and senior high schools. A few private schools offer all these different levels in one school. Here the uniform is age greaded with the primary children wearing short pants and the secondary-level students wearing similar styles, but with long pants.

Chronology

Modern Japanese schoolwear and school uniforms vary significantly depending on age. We do noy yet have historical information before World Wwar II, but age differention is notable after the War. Generally primary children wore short pants uniforms and then long pants for junior and senior hifh high school. Some junior high schools in the 1950s and 60s had short pants uniforms, but long pants were more common.

Conventions

There are a variety of different garments and styles used by Japanese school children at different ages and school levels. Very young children often wear brightly colored caps in many different styles. Many primary schools insisted on short pants, especially the schools requiring uniforms. Another major change was the shift to the Prussian-styled military uniform when school children began junior high school. Junior highs adopted the English sailor style.

School Types

Most Japanese school children attend different schools for primary, junior high, and senior high schools. A few private schools offer all these different levels in one school. Here the uniform is age greaded with the primary children wearing short pants and the secondary-level students wearing similar styles, but with long pants. A Japanese reader reports, "You will note in photograph here that amidst the boys in the shorts uniform is a boy in longs. He is wearing the school's summer middle school uniform -- note how much simpler it is. He is about the same age as the other boys, but a 7th grader and because of age cutoffs (one must be 6 by April 1 to enter Japanese primary schools and 12 to enter middle school) he was only a month older than some of the primary school boys pictured. The middle school boy's white shirt sports the school's symbol. His trousers are of the same fabric as the younger boys' shirts and shorts (a distinctive light olive), but he wears no cap. In the winter, he will be wearing the traditional Prussian uniform without cap, while the primary boys will also be in the Prussian uniforms, but with more elaborate tunic, gold braided cap, smart short-shorts and black mid-calf socks rather than long pants."

Created: January 17, 2003
Last updated: May 30, 2003