Figure 1.--Some schools had uniforms, but this was less common in more rural schools. Boys in even the rural schools night wear uniform caps. Schoolwear was commonly short pants which might be worn with long stockings during the winter. We though at first it was a rural school, but I supose the chidren could be on a field trip. We note quite an impressive structure in the background. We are not sure what the structure is the children are sitting on. Culdit be a bomb sheltr? The photograph is undated, but we would guess the early 1940s. Some of the boys seem to be giving the Banzai salute.

Some Japanese schools had uniforms in the early early 1940s during World War II. We believe this was primarily urban schools. An example are some children visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during 1943. They had lost their fathers in the War. Thus they were surely carefully oufitted for a visit to such a revered shrine. But they do show the uniform worn at many urban schools. I'm not sure the dark long sockings were always worn with the uniform or are a reflection of the formality of the visit. Uniforms were less common in more rural schools. Boys in even the rural schools, however, boys might wear military syled uniform caps. Schoolwear was commonly short pants which might be worn with long stockings during the winter. We see a Japanese classroom scene on the previous page. Notice the low-level classroom bench for writing. Unfortunately it is not dated. We are guessing that it was taken in the 1940s, but we are not sure. Perhaps our Japanese readers will have some insights. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what the sign says, but the photograph is not clear enough. Most of the children look to be wearing Western-style clothes, but we see some traditional clothes as well. Most of the boys have cropped hair. I assume this was a school rule. The girls seem to also have a standard hair style. It included straight hair covering the ears at the side and bangs in the front. Here we have a another impage which we think was prbably taken in the early 1940s (figure 1). We though at first it was a rural school, but I supose the chidren could be on a field trip. We note quite an impressive structure in the background.

Urban Schools

Some Japanese schools had uniforms in the early early 1940s during World War II. We believe this was primarily urban schools. An example are some children visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during 1943. A reader writes, "This photo shows that Japanese boys still wore long stockings for formal or dress-up occasions such as a memorial event for fallen soldiers. Black long stockings of course were appropriate. The short trousers and long stockings seem to part of a school uniform in this case." The children in the photograph had lost their fathers in the War. Thus they were surely carefully oufitted for a visit to such a revered shrine. But they do show the uniform worn at many urban schools. I'm not sure the dark long sockings were always worn with the uniform or are a reflection of the formality of the visit.

Rural Schools

Uniforms were less common in more rural schools. Boys in even the rural schools, however, boys might wear military syled uniform caps. Schoolwear was commonly short pants which might be worn with long stockings during the winter.

Classroom Scene

We see a Japanese classroom scene on the previous page. Notice the low-level classroom bench for writing. Unfortunately it is not dated. We are guessing that it was taken in the 1940s, but we are not sure. Perhaps our Japanese readers will have some insights. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what the sign says, but the photograph is not clear enough. Most of the children look to be wearing Western-style clothes, but we see some traditional clothes as well.

Hair Syles

Many of the boys in images we have seen during the War have close-cropped hair. I assume this was a school rule. It is so widespread, perhaps it was a national rule. Here I just don't know. The girls seem to also have a standard hair style. It included straight hair covering the ears at the side and bangs in the front.

School Trip

Here we have a another impage which we think was prbably taken in the early 1940s (figure 1). We though at first it was a rural school, but I supose the chidren could be on a field trip. We note quite an impressive structure in the background. After the War turned against Japan, transportation began to be areal problem. Thus I doubt if there were very many lengthy trips by late 1943 wen the American submarine began to take a real toll on the Japanese merchant marine. We are not sure what the structure is the children are sitting on. The photograph is undated, but we would guess the early 1940s. Some of the boys seem to be giving the Banzai salute. Note the military caps they are wearing. The boy are wearing short pants, many with long stockings. Notice how the girls all have the same hair cut. We are also unsure where the photograph was taken, but the palm trees suggest the south.

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Created: 6:10 AM 8/5/2006
Last updated: 4:26 PM 9/4/2007