School in Japan

Jessica91 · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hey, I got a question I've always wanted to ask...

I know you get a lot of fashion "groups" in Japan and some of them are quite bold, so teenagers who go to school, do they adapt their fashion into their uniform or are they not allowed? Cos surely if they do, the teacher or the school wouldn't let them cos the trends can be very eyecatching...

Thank you!

baronchar · (#2 (**permalink**))

I'm not from Japan, so I can't claim to be an expert; but I did read a book called "Wearing Ideology" a few years ago that addressed the subject of school uniforms in Japan. The author surveyed students and teachers from around the country.
I recall two things from it that may help answer your question. Firstly, a fair number of students actually like their uniforms and even choose to wear them outside of school as a fashion statement. And secondly, since some students do try to "customize" their uniform or appearance by altering it or accessorizing, some schools and teachers do give in to a certain extent.
I'm sure if there were goth-loli girls walking around the halls decked out in a full outfit they'd put a stop to that, but something like "loose socks" or brown hair might sneak by. It probably depends on the individual school.

lizzey · (#3 (**permalink**))

Japanese students are not allow of any type of different fashion besides their uniform. Not even different type of hair styles that may seem out of school policy. It's school rules.

Nagoyankee · (#4 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizzey

Japanese students are not allow of any type of different fashion besides their uniform. Not even different type of hair styles that may seem out of school policy. It's school rules.

Certainly not what I see in Tokyo. Most public high schols in Tokyo don't even have uniforms, period.

Hatredcopter · (#5 (**permalink**))

Typically, they would not be allowed to do something like that. Maybe things are changing in the capital, though. I visited two public high schools, one in Chiba prefecture and one in Nagoya... both had very strict dress codes, no dyed hair except for a medium shade of brown, very little jewelry allowed, etc.

Nyororin · (#6 (**permalink**))

Most schools around here have a fairly strict uniform, but hair color is only limited to "natural" shades of brown so you see plenty of dyed hair. I`d say it really depends on the school. The easier the school is to get into, the less they enforce the dress code it seems. The harder to get into "elite" schools are far more strict and police even tiny details.

You see more individualism with accessories on bags, book covers, etc rather than dress - at least during school hours.

samurai007 · (#7 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatredcopter

Typically, they would not be allowed to do something like that. Maybe things are changing in the capital, though. I visited two public high schools, one in Chiba prefecture and one in Nagoya... both had very strict dress codes, no dyed hair except for a medium shade of brown, very little jewelry allowed, etc.

That was the policy of the schools I taught at... no accessories, no wild or brightly dyed hair, etc. Judging from the kids I saw on trains and other places from other schools, that was the norm in most or all of the nearby schools.

godwine · (#8 (**permalink**))

I agree with Nagoyayankee, in Tokyo, I see a lot of school kids who dress in various manner. The culture there is pretty "white wash" (and I don't mean it in a discriminative way).

Though, when rules do exist, a vast majority of people will stick to it... so if you school or the area you live in are not as open minded, then I guess you will see children in traditional school uniform.

As I always say, rules are nothing but a set of etiquettes that is considered whats socially acceptable, so I guess the same applies to fashion too, Tokyo being such a big and modernized city, I guess it is more acceptable to have "out of whack" fasion

Jessica91 · (#9 (**permalink**))

Ah I see, thank you guys for answering my questions! I get that in my school in the uk. We have to wear a shirt but you do get some people who wear smaller shirts (so they're tight) and don't do up the top buttons up and stuff and NO ONE tucks the shirt in their trousers ( I assume that happens in most schools here anyway!) I don't weara uniform anymore cos I'm in sixth form but I never did follow the "fashion" anyway!