Figure 1.--This boy wears a stasndard white dress shirt like the ones commonly worn at Japanese primary schools where uniforms are required. Note that there is not tie, but that the collar is buttones.

We have only limited information on Japanese school uniform shirts. We can make some preliminary assessments based on available images. Uniform schools generally require white shirts, with the exception of the schools still using military style jackets where the shirts do not show. We also see light blue shirts, but they are not as common. The vast majority of the shirts we have noted are white. Most appear to be collared white dress shirts. Boys shirts are usually done with pointed collars and are worn open. An exception is that many younger boys wore blouses with Peter Pan collars. This wa usually pre-school and Kindergarteners. The Peter Pan collars were fairly standard for primary girls. We have noted both long and short sleeve shirts. The different sleeve length are worn seasonally. These shirts are almost always worn without ties. A few schools require tieds, mostly private schools. We note catalogs usually show the collars buttoned. We are not sure to what extent the schools actually required this. Most children in the photographic record seemed yo be wearing wear open collared shirts. Primary children might wear informal-sport style polo shirts, but the collared dress shirts are much more common. We are unsure just how common the polo shirts were. Some may have been used for gym. Middle and secondary schools often have uniforms such as Cadet jackets annd middy blouses which do not require shirts. Some schools have changed to modern styles like blazers in which shirts are required. The shirts in these cases are white dress shirts with standard pointed collars.

Colors

Uniform schools generally require white shirts, with the exception of the schools still using military style jackets where the shirts do not show. We also see light blue shirts, but they are not as common. The vast majority of the shirts we have noted are white dress shirts.

Collars

Most Japanese school uniform shirts appear to be collared white dress shirts. These were standard pointed collars. We d not see button downs or other varied styles, judt the basic pointed collar. Boys shirts are usually done with pointed collars and are worn open. An exception is that many younger boys wore blouses with Peter Pan collars. This was usually pre-school and Kindergarteners. Not all pre-schoolers wore Peter Pan collars, but many did at schools that had uniforms. The boys and girls might have different uniforms, but the Peter Pan collars were often a common element. The Peter Pan collars were fairly standard for primary girls. They are done in different sizes. Not all girls wear blouses with Peter Pan collas , bit it is a very common convention. We note catalogs usually show the collars buttoned without ties. The catalog illustration here is a good example (figure 1). The photographic reciord suggests that this was not very common. We are not sure to what extent the schools actually required this. Most children in the photographic record seemed to be wearing wear open collared shirts.

Sleeves

We have noted both long and short sleeve shirts. The different sleeve length are worn seasonally.

Ties

These shirts are almost always worn without as open collar shirts without ties. A few schools require ties, mostly private schools.

Polo Shirts

Primary children might wear informal-sport style polo shirts, but the collared dress shirts are much more common. We are unsure just how common the polo shirts were. Some may have been used for gym.

Secondary Schools

Middle and secondary schools often have uniforms such as Cadet jackets annd middy blouses which do not require shirts. Some schools have changed to modern styles like blazers in which shirts are required, but this does not yet seem very common. The shirts in these cases are white dress shirts with standard pointed collars collars.

Created: 6:33 PM 1/3/2005
Last updated: 11:17 PM 12/3/2012