Japanese School Uniforms

[Shinobi X]

School uniforms still exist in Japan unlike here in the U.S. where only some schools have uniforms. I've always hated school uniforms here in the U.S. (Thank god they stop). I don't know why I'm saying this but I like how school uniforms are designed in Japan. Especially how the uniforms design for girls. I really love how they design those uniforms. It's not like because girls wear skirts and you can............., to me, I like the colors and how thier uniforms looks. I think Japanese are the best at designing school uniforms for girls. What do you think?
Yep, like I said, I got this from another site where I create the same topic. Well, say your opinion about it.

[Aydan]

If it is not the mini-mini skirt type uniforms that the girls in anime wear I'm all for sending my future daughter to school in one. School uniforms used to be pretty common and they served their purpose, they promoted the school spirit, a sense of solidarity, a feeling of belonging to something bigger than yourself or something like that. But now that we are moving towards a more individualistic world I guess being part of a larger group isn't as important as being your own self. Well maybe this is just my view on things.

I like these (both the male and female version):


I find sailor type uniforms just plain ugly.

[DistMan]

I, me and some friends had a chat with some chicks at a university in japan about this. Well., I wasn't gonna reply to this thread, but ohh well :p

First we have the fact that many man girls wear shorts underneath their shirts to avoid 'peeping accidents'. Or other accidents, like the shirt fluttering happily when you're bicykling etc.

On the question about good and bad about school uniform all of the girls i spoke to were possitive. It's the whole "belonging to somewhere" thing but also more practical things like you don't have to decide on what to wear to school every day etc. And well, while some people have seifuku fetish (as we know) most people don't really think much about it. They grow up and are used to the school uniforms. On the question to some guys about school uniforms they said they didn't really think it was a big deal or that it was sexism etc. On teh question on wheter it was good that the skirts have been getting smaller and smaller they got quite red-faced tho... hehe
Well, all in all it's a cultural difference.

While I was dead set against school uniforms, I don't actually think they're all that bad anylonger. You strip away class differences and all that **** if nothning else. Like you know how some people always wear 150USD jeans although they're still young and growing,a nd how some of them gang up on the ones not wearing those super expensive clothes etc. And hey, the male version of the schooluniform doesn't look all that bad either. I feel more sympathetic towards the girls tho, who has to wear (depends on which school tho) skirts even though it's bellow the freezing point...

[MechaTama31]

Bah, I say let 'em wear fun clothes while they can, because they'll probably end up having to wear a uniform or at least conform to a dress code once they start working.

[DistMan]

They're free to wear whatever they want during their university time though (at most universities atleast).

When they begin to work and become sarariimen and OL:s it's all gray n' black suits yeah

[Lord_Vegita]

Japan is a super strict culture when it comes to education, but they also have some of the best education in the world. I would love to send my kids to japanese schools all the way through high school and then american colleges since they are better. I mean you even have to take a test to get into the better junior high schools here in japan, that's just crazy!!!!

as far as the school uniforms go though, i agree with most of the pros about them. did you know that they actually have sock glue to keep those really tall socks up on their legs. although a lot don't use it because they don't care and that's why you see their socks all bunched up at their ankles.

later

[Shinobi X]

Originally Posted by Aydan

I like these (both the male and female version):


I find sailor type uniforms just plain ugly.

Well I like the opposite of what you like.

[DistMan]

Originally Posted by Lord_Vegita

Japan is a super strict culture when it comes to education, but they also have some of the best education in the world. I would love to send my kids to japanese schools all the way through high school and then american colleges since they are better. I mean you even have to take a test to get into the better junior high schools here in japan, that's just crazy!!!!

as far as the school uniforms go though, i agree with most of the pros about them. did you know that they actually have sock glue to keep those really tall socks up on their legs. although a lot don't use it because they don't care and that's why you see their socks all bunched up at their ankles.

later

I don't know if i agree with you on that one. Firstly it depends on wheter you've got the cash to enter a private school or not; as the private ones generally hold a notch higher quality, or that is the impression I've been given from my studied atleast.

As for education in itself. Well, let's jsut say that you only have to be physically in the classes to get a grade, so if you're asleep,reading manga, playing on your keitai that doesn't really matter, you'll get a pass. And if you're in a school with an elevator system (you automatically advance to the next step, i.e junior high -> high for instance) so you don't have to type the entrance exams.

Speaking of the entrance examt, commonly reffered to as jigokushiken (hell exam), it's all about learning a shitload of numbers and data. Like, history is all about "in Which year did this and that take place", "What is the english word for this and that". Ofcourse, there are stuff on those entrance exams requiring genuine skills (Well duh!) but lots of the stuff on those are stuff which are forgotten the week after the exams if you know what i'm saying.

I think it's better to simply seek into a High-school/Uni based on your grades.

All in all I have to say that, while the education isn't bad in Japan, it isn't world best. Atleast on a junior high and high-school level it seems as if what we've got over here is Better (but I could be blinded by our own culture ofcourse). I haven't done a larger study on this, but I guess it could be interresting to compare some countries way of studying.

Anyways, you're comparing this to the American school system, which I've come to understand, sucks quite hard, atleast if it's a public school and not a private one?

Bullying is another thing which is a hughe problem in Japanese schools (documented) as you have the whole group thing. I.e if you look differently, behave differently, have different taste etc. you might be subjected to bukllying. Especially if you're a "Haafu" (Half). Meaning mix between a "white" and a "japanese" per say. Not a big problem in elementary school, but can turn into hell when you get to junior-high and high-school, as you're different than everyone.

I can't say how well the schools are handling bullying, but the impression i've been given from having read reports and studies is that they're generally quite lax compared to what we've got over here. <- But this data could ofcourse be angled.

Generally it's very hard for a non-Japanese to be fully accepted into the japanese society, if not downright almost impossible. You'll always be an "outsider" in a way and not regarded as a full 110% member. One of our teachers spoke of this the other day aswell; and how the japanese society might be a bit problematic becuase of that. Ofcourse, there are Japanese folks who will welcome you with open arms around as well!

...Long post.

I see the point of uniforms, and personally I don't care. This is probably just me, though - I've never much cared what I wear - just slap anything on and if someone wants to irritate me about it, glare at them. It helps that most of my clothes are dark green/black/blue, though, so I suppose it's not a huge problem.

[Lord_Vegita]

hmm, some very true points there distman. i had forgot to mention somethings you said in your post. i was at work and was kind of in a hurry so i didn't have time to make a quality post like you did :p.

besides the point.... i think that no matter where you go there will always be a bad side to anything. you are right about the american school system. well it is pretty diverse though. some states have an awesome system while others just down right suck (california is last i think which is where i am from). one thing i know i will have my kids do though is to learn two languages growing up at least. i think it is pretty important and i wish i had learned a second language while i was little. even if it is spanish (sorry, kind of a little put out by spanish since we have some many imigrants in cali).

oh well. everyone has their own tastes right ^^_?