With Autumn in full swing, the time has come for students to switch to their Winter school uniforms.
(L) Girls in Spring/Summer uniforms.
(R) Girls and boys in Fall/Winter uniforms.
As of this past Monday (Oct. 21), the Winter uniforms were mandatory. From the beginning of October, however, students were able to choose between Winter and Summer styles based on comfort and weather. The main difference in style between the seasons is the darker colours and addition of a blazer, sweater, or jacket. The boys usually add a tie, while the girls add a bow or ribbon (also stockings).
Most high schools in Japan still mandate school uniforms for students. These uniforms vary slightly in style between schools, typically in terms of colour combinations and accessories. Compare the uniforms of Yuri High School above to those of Masuda High School in Yokote, Akita below.
Japan has a collectivist culture, which encourages valuing the needs of a community or group over the needs of the individual. As such, school uniforms serve as a way to instill a sense of community in students, as well as represent their youth. I mentioned in a previous post that Japan romanticizes youth and considers it a very important time.
The most popular style of uniform is the セーラー服 (say-rah-fu-ku), which refers to Sailor Uniform.
服 - fuku - Clothing
制服 - Seifuku (say-fu-ku) = Uniform
セーラー - Sera (say-rah) = Sailor
This style caught on during the 1920s and was based on the uniforms of the British Royal Navy. The style had already become a fashion trend in Europe during the Victorian era of England.
Although the uniforms are normally based on sex, with boys wearing pants and girls wearing skirts, there has been a massive increase since 2019 in the number of schools that allow students to pick their uniforms. Many female students may prefer to wear pants as part of their uniform, for example. The reasons include being warmer during the fall and winter and making it easier to ride their bikes. Thus, students have achieved a little more freedom in their daily dress.
How strict this dress code is will vary from school to school and usually comes down to whatever students can get away with as they seek to add some personality to their uniforms. They do this by adding small accessories, moving or hiding badges and emblems, removing ribbons or ties, rolling up sleeves, and making skirts longer or shorter. Some schools may let that stuff slide, while others will crack down on it to maintain conformity.
So if you have ever seen any Japanese media set in modern times before, this is the reason why you might see so many characters all dressed in a similar way.
Characters from Sailor Moon, showing how school uniforms vary slightly based on school or grade.
