日本校服英语介绍japaneseuniform

JapaneseSchoolsFigure1.--Stateschoolsmayormaynotrequireschooluniforms.Almosyallprivateschoolsdorequireuniforms,theseboysarefromaprestigiousTokyoprivateschool.Japanhasundergonesweepingchangesinthepastcentury,emergingfromafeudalsocietytoanindustrialpowerhouse.ThisjourneytookwesterncountriesamilleniumbuttheJapanesenegotiatedthesweepingsocialchangesinonlyacentury.Onethingremainedconstantthroughoutthatjourneyuntilwellintothe1980s.Japan'smuch-laudedmoderneducationsystemisconsideredbymanytohavebeenoneofthekeyelementsinthecountry'semergenceasahighlyindustrializednation.Industryhaslonghaverecognizedthevalueofbroadlytrainedworkers.Landedaristocratsoftenwanttorestricteducation,bytindustrialplannersseetheneedforaneducated--ifnotalwayswellpaidworkforce.AndJapaninthelate19thcenturywasdeterminedtoindustrialize.Individualslikewisesaweducationasthemeanstoachievepersonaladvancement.IntheJapanesesystem,whereoneattendsschoollargelydeterminesone'sultimatesocialstatusandfinancialsuccess.Asaresult,studentsfromayoungageworkextremelyhardtoqualifyforthebestpossibleschools.TheJapanesepaidextraodinaryattentiontoattirefittingone'sstationinlife.Artists,teachers,businessmen,housewives,youngunmarriedwomen,athletesallhavetheirinstantlyrecognizablewaysofdressing--andwhenthecountry'spubliceducationsystemwasestablished,thiswasappliedtochildrenaswell.Forsecondaryschoolstudents,thatmeantPrussiancadetuniformsforboysandEnglishsailorsuitsforgirls.Japanwastheonlymajorcountrytooutfititsschoolchildreninmilitaryuniforms.Andforyoungerboys,schooluniformsmeantshortpants.TheJapaneseattheonsetofpubliceducationstronglybelievedinuniformsforbothelementaryandsecondaryschoolchildrenandthistraditioncontinuesunabated.StandardsMostJapanesechildrengotothecountry'sexcellentstateschools.Theprivatesectorisrelativelysmall,exceptforafterschoolcramschools.Japandoesnothavethedeep-seatedsocialproblemsandresultingseriousdisciplinestandardsinitsschoolsthatfaceAmericanandsomeEuropeanparents--causingthemtofleethestatesystem.Japaneseschoolshavehighstandardsandproduceexcellentresults,evenfromstudentsfromlow-incomefamilies.Japanesescgoolshavebeencriticized,however,forthegreatpressureputuponstudentsandthefailuretoengendercreativethought.HistoricalTrendsEducationalestablishmentsexistedinfedualJapan.ThemoderneducationalsystembegantoyakeshapeafterthelastShogan,HitotsubashiYoshinobu,resignedin1867andtheEmperor,Mutsuhito,assumedthepowersoftheactualheadofstate.MutsuhitotookthenameMeiji("EnlightenedGovernment")todesignatehimselfandhisreign.FeudalfiefsweresurrenderedtotheEmperorwhoininitatedaseriesofpoliticalandsocialreformsaimedattransformingJapanintoamodernstate.Oneofthesestepswasthecreationofapubliceducationsystembytheenactmentofaneducationlawin1872whichmase4yearsofcompulsoryeducationmanditory.Thiswasextendedto6yearsin1907.Primaryeducationwascoeducationanalandfree.Nouniformswererequiredforprimarychildren,butmanyschoolsadoptedthem.Thoseprimaryschoolsrequiringschooluniformsinthe20thcenturyhaveusuallyrequiredshortpantsforboys.AfterWorldWarIIastyleofshortshortpantsbasedonEuropeanboysclotheswerecommonlyadoptedandcontinuestobecommonlyusedinmanyschools.Secondaryeducationinvolvedfeesandgirlscouldattendseparateschools.TheJapaneseapproachtowardeducationwasclearlyshowninthechoiceofuniformsforsecondaryschoolchildren.Thegrowingimportanceofthemilitaryandthepreceivedneedtoregimentandmoldchildrenisapparentinthechoiceofmilitarystyleduniforms.PrussiawasatthetimetheleadingmilitarypowerinEuropeandhadsuccededinforminganewGermanEmpireaftercrushingFranceinabriefwar.ThusPrissiancadetuniformswerechosenforJapanesesecondaryschoolboys.EnglandwastheprimarynavalpowerofthedayandEnglishsailorsuitswerechosenforthegirls.ThepoweroftraditionisapparentwhenyouconsiderthatPrussianolongerexists,Prussia/Germanyhasbeendemilitarized,Gemanyouthwouldnotthinkofwearingsuchuniformstoschool,JapanesemilitaristshavebeendescreditedandJapandemilitarized,yetJapaneseschoolchildrenstillmarchofftoschoolinmilitaryuniforms.LevelWehavefewdetailsontheJapaneseeducationsystematthistime.Ofcoursetheorganizationandageofthechildrenhascangedovertime.Wehavelittleinformationonearlierperiods.Wehavesomeinformationonthemodernsystem.Wedonotknowhowcommonnurseryschoolsare.Thereseemtobequiteanumberofkindergartens.Ianmotsureifkindergrtenisrequired.Presumablythechildrenwouldbeabout5yearsold.SmocksarenotacommonschoolgrmentinJapan,buttheyarecmmonlyworninJapanesekindergartens.Webelievethatchildrenbeginprimaryschoolatage6.Therearecurrently6yearsofprimayschoolwhichmeanchildreninthefinalyearsare11-12yearsold.Therearethen6yearsofsecondaryschool.Generallythisissplitintojuniorandseniorhighschools.Japanesestudentsgraduateatage17-18yearsofageagter12yearsofprimaryandsecondaryschools.Figure2.--TheseboysatthisJapaneseprivateschoolweargreyshortpantssuitswithdarkkneesocks.Asitisafterschool,mostofthemhavelettherekneesocksfalldown.TraditionandChangeJapanasacountryhasafascinatingmixtureoftraditionandultamoderntechnologicalchange.ConfrontingmodernitybeganwithCommodorePerryandhisBlackShips(1853)andthentheMejiiRestoration(1867).Thecountry'sschoolsarealsoaninterestingmixture.AspartoftheMejiireforms,Japanbeganbuildingamodernschoolsystem.Educationauthoritieschoseuniformsbasdonthegreatmilitarypowersoftheday.BoysworeakindofPrussiancadetuniformandgirlsworeauniformbasedonthatoftheBRItishRoyalNavy.Manyschoolsaretraditionbounddespitethefactthatthecountry'sleftwingteacher'sunionisveryinfluential.Teachingmethodaretraditionalandincludeextenivewrotelearning.Leftwinginfluencehashadlittleimpactonthetraditionalroleoftheteacherasanauthoraitarianfigure.JapanmusthavebeentheonlycountryintheworldthatbecauseoftheassociationwithmilitarismdidnotforyearsflytheflagorsingthenationalanthemKimigayoatschools.EvenafterbeingorderedbytheMinistryofEducationtoincludetheflagandanthemingraduationandotherceremonies,theleft-wingteacher'sunionsresisted.YetschoolchildrenwereusuallytaughtaversionofhistorythatportrayedthecountryasavictimofWorldWarIIratherthanaperpetratorofterribleattrocities.OnlyattheendofthecenturyhasflyingtheflagandsingingthenationalanthembegantobecomecommonplaceatJapaneseschools.AgeConventionsModernJapaneseschoolwearandschooluniformsvarysignifivantlydependingonage.WedonotyethavehistoricalinformationbeforeWorldWwarII,butagedifferentionisnotableaftertheWar.Generallyprimarychildrenworeshortpantsuniformsandthenlongpantsforjuniorandseniorhifhhighschool.Somejuniorhighschoolsinthe1950sand60shadshortpantsuniforms,butlongpantsweremorecommon.AnothermajorchangewastheshifttothePrussian-styledmilkitaryuniformwhenschoolchildrenbeganjuniorhighschool.JuniorhighsadoptedtheEnglishsailorstyle.MostJapaneseschoolchildrenattenddifferentschoolsforprimary,juniorhigh,andseniorhighschools.Afewprivateschoolsofferallthesedifferentlevelsinoneschool.Heretheuniformisagegreadedwithyheprimarychildrenwearingshortpantsandthesecondary-levelstudentswearingsimilarstyles,butwithlongpants.ActivitiesWenoteschoolwearatJapaneseschoolsforarangeofschoolactivities.Hereweincludingcomingandgoingtoschoolaswellasclassroomwear.Childrenofcoursetakeofftheircapsandtheirjacketsforclass.Weassumethesamewastrueforblazersintheschoolsthathadthem.Primarychildrenoalsotakeofftheirshoes.Wearelesssureaboutsecondarystudents.Therearealsospecializedclasses,schooltripsaswellasarangeofotheractivities.Themostdestinctiveclothesareofcourseforgym,butschoolwearalsovarieddependedonotheractivitiesattheschool.SeasonalityManybutnotallJapaneseschoolshaveseasonaluniformsaremakeseaonaladjustments.Thisofourseonlyoccursatthoseschoolswithuniformsandismostcommonatprivateschools.Someschoolshaveentirelydifferentuniformsforsummerandwinter.Mostschoolsmakeonlyminorchangessuchasaddingseatersasjacketstothesummerschooluniform.Mostofthisoccursatstateprimaryschools.Thesecondaryschoolshaveessentiallythesameuniformsforbothsummerandwnter.TypesofSchoolsUniformstylesareverydifferentintheelementaryandsecondaryschools.Thedecisionontheuniformisuptotheindividualschool.Thereisawidevarietyofstylesintheelementaryschools,butthesecondaryschoolsaremoreuniform.I'mnotsurewhythereissuchuniformityifthedecisionisuptotheindividualschools.Notonlyareuniformsrequired,butmostschools,againespeciallythesecondaryschools,rigorouslyenforcetheregulationsadopted.Manysecondaryschoolsinthe1990shavebeguntoadoptnewuniformswithaBritishlookandmoveawayfromtheformermilitarystyleswornatalmostallschools.RegionalTrendsSchoolwearStylesWenoteavarietyofschoolwearstyles.Thesestyleshavechangedovertimewithdiffereingattitudestowardschoolwearaswellasadjustmentsaffectedbyfashiontrends.Regionaltrendsarealdsoafactor.MostJapanesestudemntsworeschooluniformsintheearly20thcentury.Theseweresimpleunoiformdswithasimplemilitarystyle.TheboyswornuniformswithAprussianlook--especiallythesecondaryschools.ThegirlsworeBritishlookingsailordresses.AfterWorldwarII,attitudeschanged.Manuprimaryschoolsdroppeduniformrequirements.Quiteanumberofschoolscontinuedtorequireauniform,buttheuniformsadoptedatmostschooldsnolongerhadamilitarylook.ThestylesadooptedhadaEuropeanlook.Mostsecondaryschools,however,retainedthemilitarylookingschooluniform.Thesemilitaryuniformsarestillwidelywornatsecondaryschools,butsomeschoolshaveadootedBritish-styleblazers.GarmentsWehavedevelopedsomebasicinformationaboutthegarmentswornbyJapaneseschool.Forthemostpartthebasicgarmentsarethesameasthoseworninothercountries,althoughthestylinghastendedtofollowadifferenttimelinethanintheWest.ThemostdestinctiveaspectofJapaneseschooluniformshasbeentheheadwearwornbythechildren.ManyJapaneseschoolchildren,abouttwo-thirdsoftheprimaryschoolchildren,sinceWorldWarIIdonotwearschooluniforms.Rathertheyweartheirregularclothestoschool.Thusdressattheseschoolsfollowthefashiontrendsoftheday.Boysattheseschoolsworetheshortcutshortpantspopularuntilthe1990s.BoysarenowwearingthelongercutshortsorevenlongpantslikeboysinEurope.Japaneseschooluniformsvarydependingonage,typeofschool,andgender.Theybasicallywearuniformgarmentsadoptedfromwesterncountries,althoughinsomecasesstylesthatarewellover100yearsold.Manypublicelementaryschoolsdonotwearuniforms,butjusttheirordinaryclothes.Mostotherschoolchildrendowearuniforms.MaterialWedonotyethaveanyinformationonthematerialusedforJapaneseschoolclothing.HopefullyourJapanesereaderswillprovideussomeinformationonthissubject.Figure3.--Theseoutfitsaretypicalelementaryschoolwearavailablefromnationaloufitters.Mostpublicschoolswillselectastylelikethisratheranyexpensiveordistinctivestyle.GenderTrendsBeforetheMeijiRestorationveryfewJapanesechildrenattndedschools.TheMeijiRestortionbyahistoricalaccidentoccurredatthesametimethattheEuropeanswerebuildingpubkicschoolsystems.ThishadbegunintheGermanstatesandAmericaandbythemid-19thcenturyBritainandFrancewerefollowingsuit.Aspartofthemodernizingimpulse,Japaanbeganbuildingapublicschoolsystem,theonlyoneinAsiaatthetime.Itwasahenomenalstepforastillvirtuallyfeudalsociety.TheJapanesefollowedtheEuropeanconventionofcreatingseparatschoolsforboysandgirlsratherthantheAmericancoeducationalapproach.Inpractice,however,therewasagoofbitofcoeducationfromthebeginning.Whileseparateschoolspredominatedinthecities.Inthecountyside,villageschoolswerecoeducational,largelybecauseitwasexpensivetocreateseparateschoolsinlightlypopulatedareas.theseofcoursewereprimaryschools.Graduallycoeducationalpromaryschoolsbecameaccepted.Andthislaidthefoundationforeducatinggirls.Andwheneducatedtogethertheretendedtobeklesscurriculumdifferentials.ParentsweremoreacceptingoflocalschoolsandtheJapanesepeoplewereperhapsmorethananyotherpeoplewillingtocomplywithgovernmentinstructions.Secondaryeducationwasprimarilyforboys,butovertimethistrueexpandedforgirls.Mostschoolchildrenworetheirtraditionalclothes.Overtime,Governmentmandateduniformsbegantotakehold,atfirstinthecitiesandthesecondarbschools.TheunifiornmsweregenderspecificandheretheJapaneseselectedmukitaryuniformsfromghetwocountriestheymostrespected:PrussiancadetuniformsfortheboysandBritishRoyalNavyuniformsforthegirls.AfterthePacificWarwhenmanyprimaryschoolsadoptedmoremodernEuropeanstyles,theyoftendecidedtocoordinateoufirs,oftenshortpantsforthegirlsandsinmilarskirtsforthegirls.IndividualSchoolsWehavesomelimitedinformationonschooluniformsandschoolwearandanumberofindividualJapaneseschools.UniformsatindividualschoolsprovidesomeexamplesofthetypesofuniformswornbyJapaneseschoolboys.Publicschoolsarelessindividualisticthanprivateschools.OnlyaboutathirdofJapanesepublicelementaryscghoolsrequireuniforms.Thosethatdoonlyrequirewhiteshirtsandusuallyblueandgreyshortpants.Thestylesavailablefromthenation-wideoutletsarequitesimilarwithonlyminorstylisticdifferences.Privateschooluniformsareoftenbroughtatspecializedshopsandusuallymoreexpensive.Privateprimaryschools,allofwhichIbelievearelocatedincities,sportawidevarietyofuniforms--indeed,Japaneseprivateprimaryschoolsservealmostasalivingencylclopediaofboys'fashionsoverthepastcentury.Onceaschoolsettlesonauniform,itseemstostickwithitforever.Ihaveheardofoneprivateschoolthatpermits(uniform)longpantsinthewinter,butvirtuallyalltheothersrequireshortpantsyearround.MostofthemrequiresomesortofjacketfromOctober1throughMay31,andpermitshirtsleevesinthesummer.Idon'thaveinformationonspecificprivateschoolsoutsidetheTokyoMetropolitanarea,butIbelieveconditionsaresimilarinOsaka/Kobe/Kyoto.SchoolInterviewsGettingintotherightschoolisveryimportanttoJapanesechildrenandtheirparents.IfthechildrengetintotheappropriateelementaryfeederschooltheycanavoidtheexamhellthatsoaffectsthechildhoodofmanyJapanesechildren.Itcanalsoensureentranceintoprestigiousuniversities,assuringjoboffersfromJapan'slargestcorporations.Thusitiscriticalthatthechildrenandparentsmakeagoodimpressionatschoolinterviews.Departmentschoolsofferguidanceonhowthechildrenandtheirparentsshoulddress.Thereareevenfairswithdifferentstoresofferingfashionadvice.Oneofthemostcriticalfactorsonwhicmoststoresagreeisthattheboysshouldwearconservativesuitsorblazerswithshortpants.SeasonsManyoftheJapaneseschoolswhichrequireuniformshaveseasonalrequirements.Idonotyethavedetailsonseasonalchanges.Themostcommonistowearjacketsduringthecoldermonths.Generallytheboyswearshortswhetheritiswinterorsummer.Theboysmightwearkneesocksratherthananklesocksinthewinter.Youngerboysmightweartights.Figure4.--TheseJapaneseboysareparticipatingintheirprimaryschoolgraduation.Thiswasauniformschoolandtheboysarewearingtheirblazers.Notetheflowerstheyreceived.Itmusthavebeenachillydayasoneboywearsgloves.I'mnotsurehowboysdressedfortheirgraduationatanon-uniformschool.CeremoniesThereareanumberofinterestingceremoniesatJapaneseschools.Ourinformationisincompleteatthistime,butwehavebeguntocollectsomebasicinformation.Anceremonyofconsiderableimportanceiswhenchildrenbeginprimaryschools.ThisiscertainlyamajoreveninthelifeofeveryJapanesechild.Manyparentsbuyasuitfortheoccassionwhichafterwardsisoftenrarelyworn.Thereisalsoaceremonywhenachildgraduatesfromprimaryschool.Boysatuniformschoolsweartheirbestuniforms,insomecasesblazers.Wearenotsurehowboysatnon-uniformschoolddressforthisoccassion.Thechildrenreceiveagraduationcertificate.Theboyspicturedherealsoreceivedflowers(gigure4).Weknowlessaboutsecondaryschool.Iamnotsureifthereisanimportantfirstdayceremony,butofcoursegradutionisveryimportant.HopefullyourJapanesereaderswillprovideussomeinsightsintotheseceremonies.AttitudesTheauthorshavelittleinformationinwhatJapaneseboysthinkabouttheirschooluniforms.Somereportsindicatethatsomeboysobjecttowearingshortpamtsincoldwather.Otherreportssuggestthatmanyboysconsudershortpantstobechildish.Thusmostareveryhappyaboutenteringjuniorhighschoolsotheycanwearlongpants.Thefactthatfewboysworeshortpantsathomeafterenteringjuniorhighschoolisanindicationthattheywerenotverypopularwiththeboys.Thishasbeguntochangesomewhatinthelate1990sasboysdowearthelongbaggyshortsascasualwear.Boysaboveelementaryschoolagenolongerweartheshorterstylestillwornaspartofschooluniforms.UnknownImagesWenoteavarietyofimagesofJapaneseschoolsthatwedonotfullyunderstand.Itisnotcleartousjustwhatisbeingdepictedintheschools.Thisincludesbothimagestakeninschoolandschoolactivitiesoutsideofschool.HopefullyourJapanesereaderswillprovideussomeinsightsastowhatishappeningintheimages.UniversityPreparationTheJapanesprisehighereducation,perhapsmorethananyothernationalgroup,certainlymorethanAmericans.Thetwogreatformerimperialuniversities--TokyoandKyoto--representformostJapanesethepeakofacademicsuccess.Graduatesoftheseuniversitiesareconsideredthebestprospectsbypublicandprivateemployers.Thedemandinghigh-schoolcurriculumislargelydesignedaspreparationforthedifficultandhighlycompetitiveuniversityentranceexaminations.Thereisagrratdealmofrotememorywork.Japanesehighschoolsdonotstressorevenincouragecreativework.Thefinaluniversityexamsareespeciallyrigorous.Manystudentsattendoneofthelargenumberofextracurricular"cram"schools(juku)thathelpthempreparefortheexaminations.WelltodoJapaneseparentsmightsendtheirlessacasdemicallyincliedboysoverseastostudy.Cleverboys,however,alwaysgotoJapaneseschoolssotheycangainaccesstoaprestigiousnationaluniversity.High-schoolgraduateswhodonotpasstheexaminationsontheirfirstattemptoftenstudyintensivelyforayearandretakethetests;agrowingnumberofpassed-overcandidates,however,pursueundergraduatedegreesatforeignuniversities.Interestingly,whileJapanesehighschoolsaremuchmoredemandingthanAmericanschools,Japaneseuniversitiesareoftenlessdemanding.ForeignStudentsThereareasubstantialnumbersofforeignfamiliesinJapan.Thesefamiliesareassociatedwiththediplomaticcorps,foreigncompaies,academics,missonaries,andothers.MostofthechildrengotospecialschoolsorforeignerswhicharetaughtinEnglishorotherforeignlanguages.Bothbecauseofthelanguageanddifferenteducationalprogram,fewforeignersattendJapaneseschools.I'mnotsurehereiftherearesomenationalitiesthataremorepronetoenrolltheirchildrenintoJapaneseschools.SomeparentsareinterestedintheculturalexperiencethatvattendingJapaneseschoolsaffordthechildren,butthegreatmajorityofforeignparentsoptforthesecurityofoneoftheinternatiinalschools.TherearealsomixedcoupleswhereforeignershavemarroedJapanese.Herewehavelittleinformation.GenerallyspeakingtherecarerelatibelyfewsuchmarriagesastheJapaneseareextremellyraciallyconciousandmanylookdownonmarryingpeopleofotherraces.VocabularySomebasicvocabularymaybehelpfulforEnglishreadersinbetterunderstandingJapaneseeducationandschooluniforms.HereisabasiclessoninaJapaneselanguageclassaboutschoolinJapan.Asthebooksays,let'stalkaboutschoolinJapan.TheschoolyearrunsfromthebeginningofApriltothelastweekofMarch.Schoolisyear'round,withseveralbreaksandvacationtimes.TerrorinJapanHBC'sassessmentofJapaneseschoolswouldbeincompletewithoutaddressingthehorendousincidentsbeingreportedatthecounty'svauntedschools.Japaneseparentshadthoughtthattheirchildrenweresavevirtuallyanywhere.Veryyoungchildrencommonlywalkedtoschoolortookpublictransport.Oftentheywouldwearbrightlycoloredcapstomakesurethatmotoristssawthem.ItwasinconceivabletonearlyallJapanesethattheirchildrenwouldberndargeratschool.ThiswasseenbytheJapanesetobeaprobleminviolence-plaguedAmerica,nottheirownsafesociety.Untilrecentlytheywerecorrect.WhathashappenedinJapan?PersonalExperiencesWehaveacquiredfewpersonalexperiencesfromJapanesereasders.WehavearchivedaJapanesegraduationscenein1939.AJapaneseaidworkerinthePhilippines,HiroKawashima,asksthequestion,"Isschooluniformnecessary?HecommentsonhisschoolinthePhilippinesaswellashisownexperiencesinJapan.InJapan,apparentlystudentleadershelpedenforcetheuniformregulations.Wealsohavefoundsomeindividualportraits,althoughwedonothaveanybiographicaldetailstogowithmanyoftheseportraits.InformationNeededUnfortunatelytheWebMasterhasreceivedfewcommentsfromthemanyJapanesevisitorstothiswebsite.Perhapsthelanguageistheproblem.ThisisunfortunateasotherthanAmericans,JapanesevisitorsarebyfarthemostfrequentsurfersatHBCandapparentlythereissubstantialinterestonthesubject.HopefullyfutureJapanesevisitorswillprovidemoredetailedobservationsontheircountry'sschooluniforms.TwoJapnesevisitorshavemadeveryvaluablecontributionstoourwebsite,butweincouragemoreJapanesevisitorstododo.