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We have developed some basic information about the garments worn by Japanese school. For the most part the basic garments are the same as those worn in other countries, although the styling has tended to follow a different time line than in the West. The most destinctive aspect of Japanese school uniforms has been the headwear worn by the children.
Many Japanese school children, about two-thirds of the primary school children, since World War II do not wear school uniforms. Rather they wear their regular clothes to school. Thus dress at these schools follow the fashion trends of the day. Boys at these schools wore the short cut short pants popular until the 1990s. Boys are now wearing the longer cut shorts or even long pants like boys in Europe.
There are some garments that are not precisely uniform garments. They are worn at both uniform and non-uniform schools. Many non-uniform schools have the children wear brightly colored caps. At sime scools they are presented to the children on the first day of school when the teachers go over safety precautions with the children. These brightly colored caps are most common at non-uniform schools. Uniform schools are more likely to have blue or white caps to match their uniforms. The syles of the brightly colored caps vary, but baseball caps are very poplar. Another garment worn at all schools are slippers. When the children arrive at school, they take off their shoes and put on slippers. This is a common practice in the home as well and of course helps to keep the school clean. As far as we know the slippers are not uniform styles. We see children wearing a wide range of colors and styles. They are worn at both uniform and non-uniform schools.
Japanese school uniforms vary depending on age, type of school, and gender. They basically wear uniform garments adopted from western countries, although in some cases styles that are well over 100 years old. Many public elementary schools do not wear uniforms, but just their ordinary clothes. Most other school children do wear uniforms. Some of the garments are quite similar to schoolwear in Western countries. Japan is a very traditional country and some schools have distinctive uniform items, esoecailly caps, or styles that were formerly worn by European school children. Details on some of the principal garments worn by Japanese school children are available here.
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