Japan and Uniform Codes for Students!

[Yurei Onnanoko]

:wave: Hiyo Everyone!

Yurei here with some questions that need answering :bluush:

In Japan they have uniforms for school, but I have seen NUMEROUS different styles used!! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF IT :p :p

I need help!! Can anyone tell me all about this or what?? I NEED HELP :relief:

Please make me understand :( I be confused

THANKS BUNCHES :wave:

Oh, and if someone can take a look at my pic and tell me if the uniform I used would be appropriate from someone in High School I would really appreciate it :bluush: THANKS:wave:

[nurizeko]

japan has different uniforms for different schools.........just like every other country in the world......believe it or not, not all japanese society goes to one school, as anime would suggest.

[Mike Cash]

1. Pic? What pic?

2. If you could be a little more clear about what confuses you, we could perhaps be helpful in clearing up the confusion.

[Mycernius]

japan has different uniforms for different schools.........just like every other country in the world......believe it or not, not all japanese society goes to one school, as anime would suggest.
I found that when I was in the US and Canada that school uniforms are usually found in private schools not regular high schools. My cousin was very surprised when I mentioned that I had a school uniform and it was usual for most UK schools to have one. I don't know if this has changed recently in North America

[nurizeko]

I pushed the dress-code to the limit with my uniform. :blush:

[Mycernius]

Mine was dark Grey trousers, light blue shirt, dark blue jumper, Navy blue blazer (optional) and the tie was dark blue with yellow and blue stripes. and shoes, no trainers. I have noticed that blazers are currently in thing for uniforms

[nurizeko]

Converse trainers, black trousers, white short sleeved shirt, un-buttoned, with my choice of T-shirt under it, that was my "uniform", i havnt worn full proper school uniform since my first day at secondary school. :cool:

[Tollen]

hehe my college is lucky if i find more than my boxers to go into skewl in in the morning ^_^ hehe is scary i tell thee... i once wore a skirt... *shudder* far to many scottish/kilt jokes for my liking....

[JimmySeal]

In my town, the elementary school students generally wear everyday clothes. In the middle school, the students wear clothing that looks like track uniforms, with t-shirts and shorts made of a synthetic material, and track pants and pullovers for when the weather is cold. For special occasions (ceremonies, concerts), they wear "seifuku." The girls have navy blue sailor suits and the boys have heavy black suits that make them look like mandarin conscripts, essentially like this picture (http://massa.typepad.com/dal_giappone/seifuku.jpg).

High school uniforms are similar and seifuku is worn every day.

[Yurei Onnanoko]

nurizeko, c'mon, even I know that there are different schools in Japan, and I didn't think that anime suggested that there was only one
Basically what I was getting at was.........
1) Are there different uniform rules, in school and after school for students in different lower-secondary schools compared to upper secondary schools? I heard that in some districts, students aren't allowed to go home and get changed into their street clothes, they have to wear their uniforms until a certain set curfew. Is that true?
2) Do the uniform codes differ in Private schools from public schools? And if so, HOW?
3) Are the students issued their uniforms or do that have to buy it from the schools, or purchase the required get up at the store?
4) During the different seasons, do the uniforms change to cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter?
5) What is the furthest you can push the uniform code? If you decide to wear something just off the wall, no uniform at all and just wear your street clothes what are the punishments?
6)Do book bags/back packs also have to meet the uniform requirments?
7) What about hair styles? Are their any kind of restrictments towards that, or make up? ( God I hope not lol )
8) Are shoes even counted in too?
I am sorry I wasn't more specific in first posting this
I was kind of in a rush at the time to get out the door.
As for the picture....

I know that is always seen in anime, but does it really work for someone who would be in upper secondary school??
Anyways, thanks for replying and I hope this will be more specific.....

[Yurei Onnanoko]

Oh darn, I don't know if any of you can see the darn pic, but if you can't you can just go to http://www.geocities.com/yuureionnanoko/home.html The pic should be posted there. I will try and fix this darn thing, maybe it's to big o-O

[KrazyKat]

3) Are the students issued their uniforms or do that have to buy it from the schools, or purchase the required get up at the store?


I can't for the life of me think why someone would want to know this. please, please, please, please tell me.

Wow thats a big pic.

Sorry I can't help answer your questions.

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Can you give us more info on your situation? Like are you going to study in japan or are you just doing cosplay or somthing? (can you make your pic smaller too, its huge)

[Glenn]

Am I the only one who can't see it?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Am I the only one who can't see it?

The pic has disapeared now :confused:

[Glenn]

But when you posted ten minutes ago you could see it? I couldn't see it before you posted the first time.

[nice gaijin]

I can see it, and it's about 1500 pixels wide and not very good quality.
as for your questions:

1) Are there different uniform rules, in school and after school for students in different lower-secondary schools compared to upper secondary schools? I heard that in some districts, students aren't allowed to go home and get changed into their street clothes, they have to wear their uniforms until a certain set curfew. Is that true?
I haven't heard of that

2) Do the uniform codes differ in Private schools from public schools? And if so, HOW?
the codes and actual uniforms differ between the schools themselves

3) Are the students issued their uniforms or do that have to buy it from the schools, or purchase the required get up at the store?
My understanding is that they have to pay for the uniform.

4) During the different seasons, do the uniforms change to cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter?
yes

5) What is the furthest you can push the uniform code? If you decide to wear something just off the wall, no uniform at all and just wear your street clothes what are the punishments?
that depends on the school. Probably no real punishment, but I don't think it's common practice for students.

6)Do book bags/back packs also have to meet the uniform requirments?
for compulsory schooling i'm sure they do. Elementary schools especially have specific backpacks for students

7) What about hair styles? Are their any kind of restrictments towards that, or make up? ( God I hope not lol )
I have not heard of any school that did not have strict restrictions on hair styles and make-up. It's just that no one pays attention to them.

8) Are shoes even counted in too?
yes

another thing I found surprising, mainly because all of the imagery of junior high and high school girls in mini skirts, is that those skirts are actually knee-length, and girls will roll them up to make them shorter. I guess it's just another "cute lolita fantasy" thing they play into.

[Glenn]

I just saw it, and you're right: it's way to big, so I deleted it. I don't think it helps all that much, anyway.

[pipokun]

5) What is the furthest you can push the uniform code? If you decide to wear something just off the wall, no uniform at all and just wear your street clothes what are the punishments?
depends on the school/prefecture as nicegaijin said.
this is my case, one day I went to school with my buggy pants-like, twice bigger than the normal one, uniform, which was totally against our school regulation, my teacher confiscated the pants, ordered to wear school sweat pants for the day.
You can find some brief school uniform history in pictures:
history #1 (http://ozaki.jp/archives/uniform.html)
history #2 (http://www.tombow.gr.jp/school/05_knowledge/01_style.html)
http://ozaki.jp/img/ww_hstry_img_01.gif
the longer, the cooler in back 70s, 80s

[Tsuyoiko]

another thing I found surprising, mainly because all of the imagery of junior high and high school girls in mini skirts, is that those skirts are actually knee-length, and girls will roll them up to make them shorter. I guess it's just another "cute lolita fantasy" thing they play into.Some things are universal. I bet they push down those long socks too. :cool:

[Mike Cash]

Like the rest of anime/manga lala-land....you're dealing with fantasy. How close or far it may be from reality is really sort of irrelevant. Japanese who create these things take tremendous liberties when it comes to the content; no reason you can't do the same thing.

[Yurei Onnanoko]

Well thanks for the info everyone, I am so sorry that the pic was such a hassel :( I tried my best but I am still kind of new to posting and everything.

I think I got as much out of the questions as I am going to. I was just curious, I didn't know if their uniforms were really like you see in anime. I am starting a new manga and I wanted it to be more realistic. Since I don't know much about Japan I needed some help.

Anyways, thanks for answering to this awful post :p

[Yurei Onnanoko]

I can't for the life of me think why someone would want to know this. please, please, please, please tell me.
Wow thats a big pic.
Sorry I can't help answer your questions.



In the manga I am doing, there is a girl who comes over from a forgeign counry to study there and I wanted to know all the little details. Basically I sort of wanted to put together a manga that could tell the true life of a student in Japan. I have never had to wear uniforms before,but in the very least we had regulation gym clothing that we had to both buy from the school and go out to like Walmart and buy them. So I didn't know how it worked.
Sorry the question sounded stupid :p

[Yurei Onnanoko]

Thanks Glen for taking care of the pic.

[changedonrequest]

) Are there different uniform rules, in school and after school for students in different lower-secondary schools compared to upper secondary schools? I heard that in some districts, students aren't allowed to go home and get changed into their street clothes, they have to wear their uniforms until a certain set curfew. Is that true?


All depends on the school, yes I have heard of it and seen it as well. However most students that one would see later at night are kids that still have not gone home yet. For many to go home change and go out again would be a waste of time.


Do the uniform codes differ in Private schools from public schools? And if so, HOW?
the codes and actual uniforms differ between the schools themselves

Each school determines their own rules regarding this, there are HS in Japan that also give students the option of NOT wearing uniforms at all. The uniforms between Public and Private schools are fairly similar.

)Do book bags/back packs also have to meet the uniform requirments?
for compulsory schooling i'm sure they do. Elementary schools especially have specific backpacks for students

Once again each school makes it own determination. In ES schools the backpacks traditionally used to be black for boys and red for girls, called a "landoseru" but they are truly expensive, they are no longer mandatory in many places and numerous different colors have been added as well. Those things are a story in themselves. Many keep them for the entire 6 years of ES schooling.

[JimmySeal]

7) What about hair styles? Are their any kind of restrictments towards that, or make up? ( God I hope not lol )

In my school, students are not allowed to wear makeup or dye their hair, and I've never seen a student with makeup or dyed hair. Most of the female teachers wear light makeup (as in face powder, mascara, and subtle lipstick) and the younger ones often tint their hair lighter brown, but if anyone ever came in with green hair the principal would probably have a heart attack.

[nurizeko]

A bit of advice, I've yet to hear about a western manga artist making it big with manga about japan.

Infact the only western manga artists i do know arent really what one would considor big-time in the comic industry.

My advice is if your still going to try and make a "realistic" manga about a country you only have tit-bits of infomation about, i suggest you research this new manga idea to death, i mean big-time.

Also dont expect it to ever sell in Japan.....ever.....sorry its a harsh lesson but i learned it myself and reality is more important then fantasy, the Japanese entertainment industry apart from hollywood movies and some western pop-music is entirely self-sustaining, their manga is their own, most of their music is their own, the anime and manga industry especially is very self protective and defensive against outside foreign intrusion.

Perhaps a story about an alien girl comming to aschool in your country or something, that way you know the setting of the comic off by heart and since the girl is an alien you can take all the artistic liberties you want.

Good luck with your little project, i hope you make some success of it, i've had plenty of manga projects in my teens, but i eventually met the truth that it would take a really special and dedicated artist to break the limits and fight the world to do what no western manga artist really has, and get a real job :S, hopefully you'll be different, who knows.

Also i apologise if the responses seem less then entirely ultimately helpful, many of the regular members here are adults who live/lived in japan or are Japanese, as such we are detached from the be nice to everyone beyond reason attitude that i admire from the Japanophile community, were not any sort of real Anime fans as you would understand the term to mean, and this isnt an Anime forum, we do however try to share our experience of Japan with new-comers to help them in anyway we can, so if you can bear with our sometimes blunt attitudes im sure we can teach you what you need to know of japan.

Enjoy your stay. :wave:

[nurizeko]

In my school, students are not allowed to wear makeup or dye their hair, and I've never seen a student with makeup or dyed hair. Most of the female teachers wear light makeup (as in face powder, mascara, and subtle lipstick) and the younger ones often tint their hair lighter brown, but if anyone ever came in with green hair the principal would probably have a heart attack.

The only day i wore full school dress code uniform was my first day of school.

In britain its ussually okay to wear casual uniform, or have dyed hair.

I dunno how it is now, but its steadily going towards allowing kids to wear whatever they fancy.

I think this attitude game about since i read articles that said students could better concentrate and stuff in the comfort of their own clothes and that uniforms are uncomfortable and the general sense that they are relics of the victorian ages or something.

Theres 4 schools all within the small city centre of my home city so, there's always been lots of kids with uniforms about.

[Mycernius]

I think uniforms are a good idea, personally. Okay, you don't like them when you're at school, but when you have left you start to get a better idea on uniforms and their advantages. Firstly, if you have had any trouble with kids coming to and from school, especially shopkeepers, a uniform helps identify where the kid is from and you can address your grievence at the school. secondly, with children and their needing designer labels fro everything, uniforms cut this out during school hours. There is no competeing on who has the best trainers or jeans. Everyone is on a level playing field, so children whose parents cannot afford designer clothes are not under as much pressure to buy them so they can be shown off at schools. Thirdly, beacsue everyone is dressed the same there is left theft of property. Why pinch a school blazer when you have one exactly like it? Again it is down to designer clothes and the haves and have nots.

I dunno how it is now, but its steadily going towards allowing kids to wear whatever they fancy.
Really? I found that over the years more schools seem to opting for uniforms. Maybe that is just local

I think this attitude game about since i read articles that said students could better concentrate and stuff in the comfort of their own clothes and that uniforms are uncomfortable and the general sense that they are relics of the victorian ages or something.
Sounds like some liberal talk, trying to explain why kids are rowdy. Bull as far as I'm concerned. Just will not accept that one of the problems is disipline in schools and homes. Can't blame it on the kids anymore, it must be some thing else, Yeah, right. A good uniform is as uncomfortable as normal clothes. In fact when you see what some kids wear I would say a uniform is more comfortable. Plus it is a form of disipline that they could do well to learn.

[misa.j]

Everyone is on a level playing field, so children whose parents cannot afford designer clothes are not under as much pressure to buy them so they can be shown off at schools.
I kind of agree except that school uniforms tend to be more expensive than regular clothes, and they need to be dry-cleaned.

I also think that girls should have a choice to wear pants as well as a skirt especially in the winter. In my high school, most kids rode their bikes to school; it got tiring to get my skirt caught in the chain of my bike.

[sabro]

Somedays I really feel like uniforms would do a world of good in American schools. I know they had some brief success in Long Beach, but support tapered off.

[JimmySeal]

The only day i wore full school dress code uniform was my first day of school.
In britain its ussually okay to wear casual uniform, or have dyed hair.
I dunno how it is now, but its steadily going towards allowing kids to wear whatever they fancy.
I think this attitude game about since i read articles that said students could better concentrate and stuff in the comfort of their own clothes and that uniforms are uncomfortable and the general sense that they are relics of the victorian ages or something.
Ok... but this thread has nothing to do with Scotland. Japan never had a Victorian era.
Theres 4 schools all within the small city centre of my home city so, there's always been lots of kids with uniforms about.
There are 4 schools
there have always been

[changedonrequest]

There are 4 schools
there have always been

Ok....So this isn't a thread about English grammar either, what's your point?


Now in an attempt to bring it back on topic.

) What about hair styles? Are their any kind of restrictments towards that, or make up? ( God I hope not lol )
I have not heard of any school that did not have strict restrictions on hair styles and make-up. It's just that no one pays attention to them.


Yes, school's have hair and make-up restrictions as well. Like nice gaijin wrote many to not pay attention to the rules that they themselves have created.

This also ties into a number of different problems regarding the discipline or lack of, seen in many Japanese schools. That is and of itself a totally different topic.

Hair restrictions can be somewhat difficult to enforce, but hairstyles that are not generally accepted in a "typical" business environment would not be allowed in a school. Students that dyed their hair would most likely be forced to dye their hair back to it's original/natural color.

Also remember that there are HUGE variations between the rules in JHS and HS.


I have worked "seito shidou" (Student Discipline) for a number of years in a Japanese HS and in the school I was in we actually kicked out a number of students during the course of one school year purely for uniform violations. Dyed hair, make-up, earrings, short-short-short skirts, to name a few. As HS education is not mandatory education in Japan there is more leeway in regards to the rules and what course of action maybe taken with students.

However since JHS is a part of the compulsatory education here schools and teachers have less tools to use in regards to punishing students for any offenses including uniform violations. If a student chose not to wear their uniform to school, they would not be allowed into the classroom, and in many cases would have their parents notified and taken home to change into proper school attire.

[nurizeko]

Taking language advice from an American...haha, the irony...:blush:

You are though correct, but because your post smacks of baseless hostility towards my harmless comment and observation, i have come to the conclusion your what in real life is considored a jerk. :cool:

Ok... but this thread has nothing to do with Scotland. Japan never had a Victorian era.

The General japanese attitude of the post meiji-restoration up to not long before WW2 seems similar to the victorian mindset.

I didnt say it did have anything to do with Scotland, i pointed out the difference between japan and Scotland, since were talking about school uniforms.
Do you have a reason for being a tit or do you just randomly spout nonsense in an attempt to generally inflate your sense of self-worth which is otherwise flagging and found wanting?. :p

As a final note, people who pick on little grammar issues, especially for no reason other then to be a smartass, are ussually disregarded as un-necissary to the discussion and as such ignored.

Back on topic, i reckon Japanese are more willing to wear uniform is because of two factors.

A) Japanese school expect you to wear it and
B) Japanese students want to wear it.

Of course I'm not in a position to poll a high-school of japanese students so i dont have a more indepth spread of opinion as to why Japanese wear school uniforms but yeah, mandatory dress-code and want would be a good guess.

[JimmySeal]

Taking language advice from an American...haha, the irony...:blush:
Nothing ironic about it. Just because the UK claims to be superior to the US, that doesn't mean it is. It's no coincidence that 8 of the top 10 universities in the world are on American soil, including #1.
Do you have a reason for being a tit or do you just randomly spout nonsense in an attempt to generally inflate your sense of self-worth which is otherwise flagging and found wanting?. :p
Yes, your post was completely irrelevant. Also it was making my head hurt. Seriously, is English your first language? It doesn't show.

[Tsuyoiko]

Come on guys, let's stay on topic. This forum doesn't demand perfect grammar, and general comments on school uniform are fine, IMO. So, no more personal jabs, thanks. :relief:

[Mars Man]

:jama: Howdy folks !! Wow. Now I can understand your concerns and reasons, Mycernius, about uniforms, but my sentiments are the opposite.

Well, now, according to my son Sho, who is presently a senior at Matsumoto Kougyo Highschool--one which does not have the uniform code--uniforms do something under the covers in a dark room behind locked doors. He's very happy to have been able to make it to a school which doesn't make its students all wear the same clothes.

Sho's JHS uniform set had cost some 25,000 plus yen, and we had to up-grade that as he grew in size, and roughness. Again, in some ways it was easier and more convenient, maybe, but we had to buy regular clothes for him anyway; to wear when not in school, so there was also a bit of overlapped, unnecessary purchasing.

I personally, don't like uniforms for schools.

[pipokun]

You can find a similar discussion ongoing in BBC, Have your say.
Don't read all opinions there, but I pick up some interesting ones there.

Added: Tuesday, 9 May, 2006, 18:03 GMT 19:03 UK
In the US, as some have mentioned, there are no school uniforms in the public schools. Growing up here I have seen horrific abuse toward the poorer children. It should be noted that differences in cultures indeed make this world a better, more interesting place, but anyone who doubt the cruelty of children is deluding themselves. Some kind of institution of uniforms with exception for religious or cultural expression would probably be the best plan.
Chris Kohls, Portland, OR

Added: Tuesday, 9 May, 2006, 17:08 GMT 18:08 UK
I grew up in Japan and spent 1st 6 grades without uniform and next 6 grades with uniforms, as everybody else did at that time. By 4th grade I was spending a lot of time and my parents' money on my clothing. From 7th grade it was no longer necessary. I could concentrate more on study, seriously! Thank the system! But Japan has been criticized for its militaristic schools. I believe critics are more concerned with Japan's military past and not for its peaceful future with educated citizens.
WRP, Los Angeles

[changedonrequest]

If the "mod's" here delete threads for what ever reason, it would be NICE if they at least make a comment that they have done so. I expect that this post will be deleted out of hand so what ever you decide to do at least so some common respect when you do it.