Figure 1.--

Japan even bfore the World War II era had a standard primary scondary approach to education adopted after the Mejii Restoration when the Japanee adopted a Western education system. At first secondary educatuion was very limited and even at the time of World War II, relatively few Japanese children went on to secondary schools after completing primary school. The education of girls in particular ws neglected. Rural and working-class children did not normally attend secondary school, although there was a greater degree of social mobility through the military. This chnged after the War. Primary education was affected by the American inspired reforms. It was alreadly well established before the War. After the war we see coeducation becominfg stndard at the primary level. And we we begin to see more lady teachets. Schoolwear also changed. The Japanese Army uniforms disappear. Vadet uniforms were common at both the primary and secondaru level, but gradually we see more stylish Western clothes becoming standard. Many schools began adopting simple uniforms, but this was a minority of schools. The changes at secondary schools were much more dramatic, but not very visuble. As at the primary level, the Japanese Army uniforms rapidky dissappeared after the War. The Prussian cadet uniforms for boys and sailor suits for girls became standard. The principal change was that the secondary system was significantly expanded, becoming virtually universal. This included girls as well as boys. These unforrms continued to be widely worn with only a few schools adopting blazer uniforms.

Primary Schools

Japan's educational system was overhauled during the American Occupation. Like their American counterparts, Japanese children from the late 1940s on went to primary school for 6 years, middle school for three, and high school for three--the so-called 6-3-3 system. (Even though the States has now moved largely to 5-3-4 rather than 6-3-3, Japan still rigidly follows the 6-3-3 model.) Virtually all Japanese secondary schools required uniforms. Those primary schools requiring school uniforms in the 20th century have usually required short pants for boys. After World War II a style of short short pants based on European boys clothes were commonly adopted. It was widely worn by the early 1950s and continues to be commonly used in many primary schools. Even at schools with no uniform requirement, mothers mostly sent boys to school in the short shorts that were commonly worn. In contrast to secondary schools, primary schools that required uniforms were in the minority in the postwar years. Thus, while a discussion of secondary schoolboy fashions and secondary schooboy uniforms is almost the same discussion until the last few years, for primary schoolage boys, uniforms and regular wear require separate treatment.

Figure 2.--This junior high school had a military sdtyled uniform, bit it was left up to the parents as to whether a boy wore short or long pants. Boys wearing short had to wear matching dark blue kneesocks. HBC is not sire about the date of this photograph, but it was probably the 1960s. Notice the white gloves.

Junior High Schools

Junior high schools were part of the educational reform following World War II and the American occupation. I do not believe there were any junior high schools in Japan before World War II. Rather junior hiogh were part of the American-inspired effort to offer education to all Japanese across a wide spectrum of social society anfd both boys and girls. Despite the Americam inspiration. Many junior highs adopted rather in-American uniforms. While primary schools varied, most hunior highs required uniforms. Some junior high schools adopted the Prussian-styled military uniform commonly worn at senior high schools. Uniforms at junior high schools were quite varied. While some used the military style uniform, other adopted suits or less forma unifiorms of shirts and long or short pants. At some junior highs boys wore shorts, but this was not always a requirement. Shorts were worn at junior highs through the 1970s, but most junior highs had switched to long pants by the 1970s.

Secondary Schools

Schools might have changed, but secondary school uniforms did not--most schools continued to stipulate the Prussian cadet uniform.
Cadet tunic: The tunic was sually black, occasionally navy blue--serge. The tunic was worn with stiff white collar, gold buttons (or in a few cases long stripe and clasps instead of buttons). The buttons often had the school symbol engraved on them, as did the cap. The boy's grade and class were often identified on the collar.
Cap:
Trousers: The secondary school uniform was always long trousers, usually serge. Short pants were never worn at secondary schools. This reflects the Japanese penchant for using dress to identify status and even ocupation. Short pants were strictly for primary-age boys. Once a boy left primary school he no longer wore shorts, even for casual wear. Boy Scouts--never as popular in Japan as in Western countries--were the only boys over 12 years to wear short pants in non-athletic situations. The Boy Scouts had a year-round shortpants and knee socks uniform until 1990 (in colder weather, some boys would wear jeans instead of the uniform shorts).
Shirts: In warmer months, (usually June 1 through September 30), boys were allow to wear long or short-sleeved, open-necked white shirts instead of the tunics. Long trousers, however, were universally required.
Coat and tie: Beginning sometime in the 1970s, some secondary schools began switching uniforms to coat-and-tie. Usually, a blue navy suit, although a few schools had navy jackets and grey trousers. In the summer time, boys at these schools dressed like their counterparts in the more traditional schools--open necked white shirts and long trousers.
Athletic uniforms: Shorts were allowed only for athletic wear and could only be worn on the playing field. (Most schools in addition to the regular unifrom had athletic uniforms--sweat suits in the winter, shorts and T-shirts in the summer. The t-shirts or sweat shirts usually sported the school symbol).

A handful of Tokyo (and maybe in Osaka/Kobe) schools in the 1980s--generally academically very rigorous schools--dropped the uniform requirment. Boys at these schools adopted the prevailing casual fashions. In the mid-80s, one could occasionally see boys from these schools in the short, snug shorts and long athletic socks favored by their younger brothers. Usually boys who dressed this way were oung-looking themselves and it only lasted until 8th grade at the latest.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main Japanese Post-war School Page]
[Return to the Main Japanese School Chronology Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Scotland]
[United States]

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers] [Blazer] [School sandals]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[Return to Main school uniform page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Garments] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 1:19 AM 9/4/2011
Last updated: 1:19 AM 9/4/2011