Famous Private and National Elementary School Entrance Interview Fair

Japanese department store catalogs, like those from other countries, provide many useful details about popular boys' fashions. Unlike fashion magazines, the department store catalogs provide information on fashions often selling. The fashion magazines sometimes provide more fanciful information about fashions that designers and mothers would like for their boys rather than what was actually worn.


Figure 1.--Japanese short pants suits by the late 1990s had changed significantyly. Even for interviews for condervative private schools, department stores offered suits with knee length shorts and non-traditional non-white shirts. This boy wears a conservative suit, but note the double pockers. Despite the conservative suit, he wears a rather flashy pink shirt.

School Interview Fashions

It is critical in Japan for even elementary-age school children to get into the right school. Schools schedule interviews in which they assess both children and parents. Prestigious schools have many more applicants than they can accomodate. These schools include both private schools as well as a small number of national (state funded schools) that serve as feeder schools to well-regarded national highschools and national universities. (Note: In Japan the national government maintains a small number of excellent elementary and secondry schools as well as the country's most prestegious universities.)Graduates of these feeder schools are exempted from the entrance examinations that is referred to as "exam hell" in Japan. The children that do get into the prestigious universities are almost guaranteed a good job offer from important corporations. As a result, the stakes are high for the children and parents attending even elementary school interviews. The parents feel the need, with some reason, to make a good impression at these interviews.

Fashion Trends

A comparison of the catalogs distributed at the annual school fashion fair provide an interesting window on Japanese boys fashions in general and school fashions specifically.

1992 Catalog

Department stores in the early 1990s were still recommending conservative suits or blazers with conservative grey or blue shorts. The shirts were always white. The shorts were still short. Kneesocks or conservative colored ankle socks were recommended. Usually white or navy blue.

1999 Catalog

A much wide range of short pants suits were deemed acceptable in 1999. There were many colors beyond navy blue and grey. Colored shirts were acceptable. The short pants were longer, and many were cuffed. Patterened kneesocks, such as argyles were accepted. Although not yet addressed by this catalog aimed at gaining acceptance to conservative private schools, the convention of elementary boys wearing short pants suits, was waiing in Japan as more and more boys were increasingly wearing long pants.

Japanese Short Pants Suits

Japanese boys do wear suits as commonly as American and European boys. Many suits are purchased for school interviews or entrance ceremonies. Most are shrt pants suits. But other tahn the school ceremonies, there are not a lot of occasions where they are worn.







Christopher Wagner

histclo@lycosmail.com


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Created: July 27, 1999
Last updated: July 28, 1999