Figure 3.--The boys at this Japanese junior high school in the 1970s wear a uniform that looks rather like an English school uniform, with peaked caps and short opants suits. Most English boys, however would have worn ties and never would have worn white socks. This is the boys winter uniforms

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.

Educational Reform

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 high were part of the American-inspired effort to offer education to all Japanese across a wide spectrum of social society and both boys and girls.

Chronology

HBC at this time does not have detailed information on chronolgical trends at junior high schools. HBC assumes that most junior high schools were established in the 1940s and 50s. HBC has little information on uniforms during this period. Uniforms were varied. Many schols had the Prussian inspired military uniform, but other schools had more civilian styles. Many schools required the boys to wear short pants. Shrts were still cmmon by the 1960s, but by the 1970s many junior high schools had switched to long pants uniforms. There were still some junior high schools in the 1970s that requited shorts but mpst had swithched to long pantsd by the 1980s. The military uniform had become the standard. Currently in Japan probably all junior high schools have long pants uniforms. One HBC reader reports that he does not know of a single junior high uniform where shorts are required or even allowed. In the small number of non-uniformed junior highs, you do see the contemporary casual knee pants from time to time.

Uniforms Types

Despite the Americam inspiration of the junior high schools, most adopted rather un-American uniforms. While primary schools varied, most junior 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.

A HBC reader in Japan believes that the handfull of junior highs that permitted/required short pants reflected nature of the institution. The form of the Japanese system was modified along American lines, although the spirit was still very much Japanese. In the pre-War years, primary school lasted through 8th grade and one then went directly into high school. The prewar primary uniforms featured mostly shorts, although they were longish and often worn with over-the-knee tights rather than knee or ankle socks, particularly in colder weather. (Interestingly, pre-war university students also wore what we think of as the highschool Prussian cadet uniform. Now, it is strictly secondary - or, in a few cases with shorts, primary --schoolwear) Once the junior highs was instituted, some thought of themselves more as higher elementary rather than lower secondary schools. Thus they chose uniforms that were more characteristic of primary schools.

Seasonality

Many Japanese junior high schools had destinctive winter and summer uniforms. While schools requiring short pants often had winter and summer uniforms. Boys often wore shorts regardless of the season. Changes might be made to the jackets or the weight of the fabric. Some schools changed from kneesiocks to ankle socks in the warmer weather.

Regional Trends

A HBC reader reports that he was a high schoolboy in Japan during the 1960s. He went to a school in the northern city of Sendai which has a much colder winter than Tokyo. No junior high schools in Sendai had a short pants uniform. Even the majority of primary school boys wore longs in the winter, although shorts-wearing was ubiquitous in warmer weather. In those days in Tokyo and farther west/south, virtually all primary school boys wore short pants year round.

Individual Schools

HBC has some information on some private junior high schools in Tokyo. We do not at this time have information on public schools and junior high schools in other cities. These schools-- particularly Keio are thought of as elite schools.

Keio junior high school

Keio Gijuku (Keio Private School System) is a well known private school in Tokyo. It was not specifically a junior high school, but rather a comprehensive educational intutution offering primary to university education. Keio University is one of the most prestigious private schools in Japan. Keio Junior High was thus only part of the overall program. Keio like most private schools required a uniform. The school had quite different summer and winter uniforms. The summer uniform was rather informal while the winter uniform rather formal. Keio in 1990 even founded the Keio Academy in New York primarily to meet the needs of Japanese living overseas.

Jiyu gakuen junior high school

Jiyu gakuen junior high school was a well known private school in Tokyo.

Tamagawa gakuen junior high school

Tamagawa gakuen junior high schoolwas a well known private school in Tokyo.

Created: February 2, 2001
Last updated: March 5, 2001