Japanese Primary School Uniform Styles: English-style Uniform


Figure 1.--I am not sure what to call this style of uniform. It has a slight military look to it, but not like the Prussian cadet cap. It is a blue jacket worn with a large white open collar. In some ways it reflects the Japane Army uniform worn in tropical countries, only done in blue.

We note some boys wearing a British style uniform with peaked caps, grey short pants suits, and kneesocks. During the Winter the boys wear British looking overcoats. The boys also wear ties, very unusual in Japan--especially at primary schools. Except for the Japanese faces, one might think you were in London. This particular school was a Church of England (CoE) school, explaining the English look. As far as we know this is a destinctive unform at a private school, not a commonly worn uniform style at Japanese schools. The school had very strict uniform regulations. Note for example how the boys' shoes are shined. While the uniform regulations were very detailed, the boys apparently could wear either kneesocks or ankle socks. This was the case in other schools where some flexibility was shown in hosiery, even at schools with very strict uniform requirements. Curiouly the peaked caps come with chin straps. We note that many more common styles of Japanese school caps come with chin straps. The purpose of course was to precent them from flying off in the wind. The only exception is that baseball caps come without chin straps. As a result, the school when ordering these caps included a request for chin straps like other school caps. Only one boys in the group here wears the chin strap. We note boys at other schools more commonly wearing these chin straps with floppy caps. In this photograph only one boy is wearing his chin strap. We are not sure why he wears his chin strap and the other boys do not.

English-style Uniform

We note some boys wearing a British style uniform with peaked caps, grey short pants suits, and kneesocks. During the Winter the boys wear British looking overcoats. The boys also wear ties, very unusual in Japan--especially at primary schools. Except for the Japanese faces, one might think you were in London. This particular school was a Church of England (CoE) school, explaining the English look. As far as we know this is a destinctive unform at a private school, not a commonly worn uniform style at Japanese schools.

Uniform Regulations

The school had very strict uniform regulations. Judging from the boys here, this school had very detailed uniform regulations that were strictky efoirced by the staff. Note for example how the boys' shoes are shined. There are, however, a few exceptions to the strict enforcement.

Notable Features

There are some interesting aspects of the uniform the boys here are wearing.

Peaked caops

The English-style peaked cap was not commonly worn by Japanese school boys. Normally we only notice this style used for Japanese Cub scouts. The caps that the boys here wear are notable for the very small peaks or bills. This suggests yo us that they were manufactured locally, presumably a special order from the school.

Cap chin straps

Curiouly the peaked caps come with chin straps. We note that many more common styles of Japanese school caps come with chin straps. The purpose of course was to precent them from flying off in the wind. The only exception is that baseball caps come without chin straps. As a result, the school when ordering these caps included a request for chin straps like other school caps. Only one boys in the group here wears the chin strap. We note boys at other schools more commonly wearing these chin straps with floppy caps. In this photograph only one boy is wearing his chin strap. We are not sure why he wears his chin strap and the other boys do not. A Japanese reader writes, "Perhaps there was a school rule requiring the boys to use their chin straps, but the older students did not like to do so believing that using the chin strap made them look like the younger students who all complied with the rule as the younger boys does here."

Overcoats

The boys here wear British-looking overcoats. Some schools wiyj uniforms did not have uniform coats, but allowed the children to wear their own coats in cold weather. This school clearly had a destuibnctive oivercoat. Apparently wearing the overcoats was, however, optional--up to the boys and their parents.

Grey suits

Grey suits were very popular for British boys. (Navy blue or black was more common for American boys.) British schools often had uniforms with colored blazers and grey shorts, butv some schools had uniforms of grey suits like the boys here.

Kneesocks

Notice that none of the boys wear true British-style turn-over-top kneesocks. Even when pulled up the socks do not come to the knee. Perhaps this is because the bnoys are the older students about to graduate and mother has not purchased new sovks as they will have a different uniform next year. Even the socks that look more like kneesocks do not have turn-over tops. While the uniform regulations were very detailed, the boys apparently could wear either kneesocks or ankle socks. This was the case in other schools where some flexibility was shown in hosiery, even at schools with very strict uniform requirements. English schools tended to be more strict about this. A Japanese reader writes, "Perhaps kneesocks were recommended by their school, but if the the socks conformed with the standard of the uniform rules in their school such as color or length, they may be permitted to wear ankle socks."







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Created: May 8, 2004
Last updated: May 9, 2004