|
Many younger Japanese children (boys and girls) commonly wore tights to school. Boys commnly wore them with with short pants. They were worn both at schools which required a uniform and the schools where uniforms were not required. Many boys wore them everyday in colder days specially in Kindergarten and the first and second grades of peimary (elementary) school. While it was most common for these younger boys to wear tights, some older boys also wore them. Japanese schools, even uniform schools tended to be less strict about hosiery than many other uniform items. We note some schools in whih some children wear tights and others do not. At other schools, however, we note all the younger children wearing tights. So some schools clearly had school rules requiring tights be worn as part of the uniform or schoolwear. These rules seem to have not only varied by age, but also seasonally. We also note gender variations, especually with tights forst appeared. Warm clothing was not only the only reason for wearing tights. They wee also seen as formal wear. We note boys dressing up for First Day ceremonies with short pants suits and tights. White tights were the most common for formal occasions.
Many younger Japanese children (boys and girls) commonly wore tights to school. We note quite a number of younger children wearing tights at school, albeit on a seasonal basis Tey were very common durung the winter months because so manty younger boys wore short pants.
Boys commnly wore tights with with short pants. We know abouit them primarily because so many Japanese boys wore short pants to school year round. This is somewaht less common today, but was very prounounced in the 20th century. This only began to cahnge late in the 2oth century. This is of course important because when boys are wearing long pants, it is difficult to tell much about their hosiery. Some boys may have worn tights with long pants, but this is impossible to determine. We believe thaey would have only been yomngerr boys.
Tights were worn both at schools which required a uniform and the schools where uniforms were not required. Japanese schools, even uniform schools tended to be less strict about hosiery than many other uniform items. We note some schools in whih some children wear tights and others do not. At other schools, however, we note all the younger children wearing tights. So some schools clearly had school rules requiring tights be worn as part of the uniform or schoolwear. These rules seem to have not only varied by age, but also seasonally. But as formality was also a factor, ot was not all age and seaonality.
Seasonality was an important factor affecting tights as it bhas been with long stocjings. Many boys wore them everyday duting the winter. This was especially the case regionally as the climate varies between northern and southern Japan.
Tights were especially common for the younger boys in Kindergarten and the first and second grades of primary (elementary) school. While it was most common for these younger boys to wear tights, some older boys also wore them. The only way we have of determining.this is assessing the photographic record. We haved no written material assessing this topic. It is clear from what we observerd thay boys throughout 7-8 years of age wore tights to achool. We think that this continued through about 10 years of age, but we are unable to derermine at this time just how common this was. We believe that about 10 years of age that it was not common for boys to wear tights. We continue to assess this as our Japanese archive expands.
We also note gender variations, especually with tights first appeared. Noth biys anf girls wore gights. There was no assiociation with girls as was the case in America and mamy European countries. We do nog yet have suffuicebt images to reasionaly assess gender differences in Japan.
Warm clothing was not only the only reason for wearing tights. They wee also seen as formal wear. We note boys dressing up for First Day ceremonies with short pants suits and tights. White tights were the most common for formal occasions.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
[The 1990s]
[The 2000s]
<
Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Style Pages
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Lederhosen]
[Kneesocks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main Japanese tights page]
[Main School Uniform Page]
[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC School Sectiom:
[Return to the Main HBC Country School pages]
[Return to the Main Japanese tights page]
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
