Figure 1.--Here we see school uniform short pants in the same style from a Japanese catalog, we think in 2004. The only difference in the length. Note the use of Western boys for models.
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Figure 1.--Here we see school uniform short pants in the same style from a Japanese catalog, we think in 2004. The only difference in the length. Note the use of Western boys for models. |
The length of the short pants worn by Japanese schools boys has varied substantially. We have noticed Japanese boys wearing shorts of various lengths, Japanese boys before and after World war II generally wore rather long short pants at about knee level. The shorts worn by Japanese schools boys since the 1960s have generally been trimmed fitting short shorts. I'm not sure why this style became so popular in Japan or why they were so widely adopted by the schools. They were the classic "hanzubon" short pants that were once so common in Japan. Older boys in the 1990s have begun to wear short pants, but not to school. But they wear the longer baggy style that have become popular. These styles have become popular with the younger boys. Most schools, however, with an established uniform continue to insist on the trim fitting, shorter style. This is true of both the private and public schools. We note Japanese clothing catalogs in the early 2000s offering short pants school uniforms in different lengths (figure 1).
The length of the short pants worn by Japanese schools boys has varied substantially. We have noticed Japanese boys wearing shorts of various lengths. We see lengths ranging from below the knee to very short shorts and all lengths in between.
Japanese boys before and after World war II generally wore rather long short pants at about knee level. The shorts worn by Japanese schools boys since the 1960s have generally been trimmed fitting short shorts. I'm not sure why this style became so popular in Japan or why they were so widely adopted by the schools. They were the classic "hanzubon" short pants that were once so common in Japan. Older boys in the 1990s have begun to wear short pants, but not to school. But they wear the longer baggy style that have become popular. These styles have become popular with the younger boys. Generally these longer styles appeared at school and even affected schoo uniform styles.
Most schools with an established uniform continue to insist on the trim fitting, shorter style of shorts even after the long, baggy shorts appeared in Japan. This was true of both the private and public schools. We note Japanese clothing catalogs in the early 2000s offering short pants school uniforms in different lengths (figure 1). Gradually even the school uniform shorts have become affected by the longer style of shorts worn by Japanese boys. Almost all Japanese schools have unifiorms with the boys wearing the same shorts, regardless of the season. Few schools have seasonal uniforms.
An Argentine reader writes, "Looking at the pictures of the Japanese schoo boys, many wear very short shorts as part of their uniform. Considering Japan can be a very cold place in winter I was wondering if they wear longer shorts or long trousers in winter? Do they wear long trousers to school and then change into shorts once they have arrived at school? An interesting question." HBC has never notice our Japanese readers mention this. The style of shorts in Japan have changed, but with the exception of a few private schools, the unforms in Japan do nit appear to be seasonal. The country where seasonal uniforms are most common, including summer and winter school shorts, is New Zealand. Bit here the difference was the material, not the length.
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