Figure 1.--This boy in a photograph wears traditional clothes to school. The image is undated, but HBC believes that it was probably taken in the 1920s. Note the two modern touches, the cap (which may be a school cap, and the book bag. |
|
One of the early modernizing steps taken by Japan's new Imperial Government in the early 1870s was to establish a new national public education system. Soon the country's secondary school children were oufitted in foreign miliary uniforms, showing the importance of the military and the approach toward education in the new Japanese state. No other country outfitted virtually all of its secondary school children in military uniforms. The power of tradition in Japan is shown by the fact that Japanese school children still mostly wear these same uniforms, unchanged for more than a 100 years. Some primary schools also adopted uniforms. The distinguishing characteristic of primary uniforms were the short pants that the boys wore, a reflection
of the Japanese penchent for clearly marking out one's status and even ocupation by the way he or she dressed, a custom that only in the 1980s has begun to disappear in Japan.
Educational establishments existed even in fedual Japan preceding the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Many traditional Japanese schools showed Chinese cultural influences since ancient times. Private temple schools (terakoya), mostly in
towns, functioned as basic elementary schools. Monks taught reading, writing, and arithmetic were taught. Unemployed warriors or others might also teach. Provincial lords (daimyo) also established special schools for children of the warrior class. Yet another type of school instructed primarily the children of wealthier merchants and farmers. Education was high;y restricted to the wealthy, as is often the case in agricultural societies. Most Japanese were illiterate.
The modern educational system began to take shape after the last Shogan, Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu, resigned in 1867 and the Emperor, Mutsuhito, assumed the powers of the actual head of state. Mutsuhito took the name Meiji ("Enlightened Government") to designate himself and his reign. Feudal fiefs were surrendered to the Emperor who ininitated a series of political and social reforms aimed at transforming Japan into a modern state--using the nation states of Europe as a model. The preminent model used Imperial Germany which had just been forged out of a host of independent states by Prussia. A modern educational system was introduced immediately after the Meiji Restoration. One of the early steps taken by the Imperial Government was the creation of a public education system. An education law enacted in 1872 made 4 years of compulsory education manditory. The government set up elementary and secondary schools throughout
Japan. Primary education was coeducational and free. Secondary education involved fees and girls could attend separate schools. The Government in 1886 inagurated a system providing 3-4 years of education. Japan's introduction of modern education did not encounter serious resistance. It utilized the existing system and the Japanese people saw education as such an important element of their industrializatioj effort.
Free compulsory education was introduced in 1900, and in 1908 it was extended to a period of 6 years. Our information on school clothing and uniforms during the early 20th century is still very limited. Japan in the 1920s began to be increasingly dominated by the military. We are not yet sure to what extent this was redlected in school uniforms. After the turn of the century we see boys at some primary schools repacing knee pants with longish shorts and long stockings with knee socks. There appear to be substantial differences between rural and urban schools. We are unsure to what extent schools had dress codes and uniforms. These clothing changes may simply reflect overall fashion shifts. Many primary schools adopted uniform that was less overtly military--usually lapelless jackets, shorts, and broad white collar. One common feature was often a military-styled cap. Secondary education was also expanded, although it was still not free. Uniforms continued to be the same Prussian cadet uniforms and English middy blouses. The growing power of the Japanese military was clearly evident in Japanese schools. It was not just the uniforms. The ethos of the warrior was extolled throughout the curriculm. Military drill was employed and expanded for the older boys.
|
Japan after World War II intoduced compulsory education in 1947. School is compulsory for a 9-year period, beginning at the age of six. Fashions changed after the war for primary school children. Many primary schools dropped uniform rquirements and those that did, with only a few exceptions, introduced civilian styles. Almost all primary schools adopting uniforms adopted short pants uniforms, usually with quite short shorts. Although Japan had been defeated and occupied by the Americans, Japanese mothers and school administrators appra to have turned to Europe, seemingly France or Italy for inspiration in boys' fashions. Junior high schools were created as part of the educational reforms. Many but not all adopted military styled
uniforms. Some of the boys wore shorts. At some junior highs boys wore shorts, but this
was not always a requirement. Shorts were worn at junior higghs through the 1970s, but
most junior highs had switched to long pants by the 1970s. Most senior high schools
continued the Prussian cadet uniform which survived as the primary style through the
1980s. A few senior highs by the 1980s began experimenting with civilian styles--usually
English-style blazers and slacks.
Major changes occureed during this relatively brief period. Some primary schools dropped the uniform requirement. Many primary schools which retained uniforms adopted the longer style of short pants, although some schools still retained the short shorts. A few schools have retained the more traditional shorter short pants. This is especially common at private schools. Boys at schools without uniforms commonly wore shorts in the warmer months--mostly long baggy shorts. Most boys at these schools wore long pants in the winter. While most primary schools do not have uniforms, almost all junior and senior high schools do require uniforms. HBC has less information on junior high schools, but a few senior high schools dispensed with the military uniform styles and adopted a new English-style blazer and slacks.
We have only limited information available on Japanese school uniform trens in the 21st century. Most primary schools do not require uniforms. About a third of the schools do require uinforms and in most cases these involve short pants for the boys. Many have adopted the new style of long baggy shorts, but a few scghools maintain the older shorter style of shorts. Almost all secondary schools do have school uniforms. We have noted a variety of more casual uniform styles emerging at Japanese secondary schools. The newer styles of uniforms appearing in many websites are stylish casual clothing rather than the formal miltary styles that were worn at most schools during the 20th century. Many do not have the appearance of a uniform, other than the fact that the students all wear the same style. We are unsure how widely these new styles are being adopted. Clothing stores usually show the most modern uniform offerings. Most schools still appear to have have the more traditional uniforms. We do note that blazer and tie outfits seem to replacing the boy's military collar jacket, although this is still the most common style.
Related Links: Careful this will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but these sites are highly recommended.
Apertures Press New Zealand book: New digital eBook on New Zealand schools available
Boys' Preparatory Schools: Lovely photographic book on British Preparatory Schools during the 1980s with over 200 color and black and white images.
Apertures Press British Preparatory Schools book: New digital eBook book on Britih prepratory schools (volume I) available.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
Late 19th century]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Main School Uniform 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]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
