Japanese School Uniform: Activities--Gym and Sports


Figure 1.--Here we have a scene from sports day at a Japanese school. This is a good example of tghe similarities of schools around the world. Schools in many countries have sports days. It also shows the unique Japanese flare at the events.

We do not know a great deal about the role of sports in Japan. We do note that that schools seem to have important gym programs. We do not now a great deal, however, as to what the program in gym classes consists. We get the impression that calestheics and drill is or at least was a major part of the program. Hopefully Japanese reades will tell us more about the gym program. We do note sports day at Japanese schools. There seem to be, however, very little emphasis on inter-scholastic sports cpntests between different schools. Americans may think this unusual, but it is actually the more common pattern among schools around the world. The most destinctive clothes are of course for gym, but schoolwear also varied depended on other activities at the school. We have begun to develop some information on sports in Japan, but we are not yet sure to what extent sports are organized as school events.

Sports in Japanese Schools

We do not know a great deal about the role of sports in Japan. There seem to be, however, very little emphasis on inter-scholastic sports cpntests between different schools. Americans may think this unusual, but it is actually the more common pattern among schools around the world. We have begun to develop some information on sports in Japan, but we are not yet sure to what extent sports are organized as school events.

Gym Programs

We do note that that schools seem to have important gym programs. We do not now a great deal, however, as to what the program in gym classes consist. We get the impression that calestheics and drill is or at least was a major part of the program. Hopefully Japanese reades will tell us more about the gym program. We see primary children involved in a range of competitions and gymnastics. We are less sure about secondary schools. We do not yet have much information, but we have aquired some images showing some of the activities for gym at various schools.

Undo Kai/Sport's Day

We do note sports day at Japanese schools. These events appear to include a variety of mass gymnastic demonstrations. We assume there are also competitive track and fedld events as are common at American and British schools. There are also some uniquely Japanese feattures. Undo Kai or Sports Day is in fact a major event at most Japanese schools. . Many parents come to watch their children on Sports Day. It is perhaps the most intesively photographed school event in Japan. It is not a single day, but rather varies from school to school. Some schgools have more than one Undo Kat each year. The kids are of course the center if attention, but it is actually more of a community event than school event because so many parents and even neighborhood residents witghout kids attend. The school essentially closes down for the day. An effort is made to involve as many of the children as possible, The activities for the younger children focus on participation. Competition becomes more important for the older children.

Gym Uniforms

The most destinctive clothes worn at are of course for gym. We are not sure about gym trends befire Workd War II. After the War we see children doing gym in T-shirts and shorts. The boys and girls wore the same uniform. There were differences between primary and secondary schools. Some Japanese primary children appear to do gym in their school uniforms or the clothes they wear to school. Many primary and all secondar schools seem to have gym uniforms. White shorts are a popular choice. We also note white "-shirts and dark, usually dark blue shorts. The T-shirts often have colored trim and/or the school nane or logo. Other schools have more destinctive shorts, sometimes with stripes. Most children did gym in sneakers, but a few primary schools have the children do gym in bare feet. Many primary children wear sneakers to school. I think they wear the same sneakers gor gym, but am not positive about it. At secondary school, the students normally wear dark shoes and have white sneakers fir gym.







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Created: 9:23 PM 11/6/2004
Last updated: 5:27 AM 3/20/2011