Japanese School Uniforms Explained ★ ONLY in JAPAN

80% of Japanese High School students prefer uniforms. It's the opposite to western countries - but why? Japanese School Uniforms are an important part of the country's culture - students associate it with their youth. But why do school have different styles, how have uniforms evolved the last 100 years? How much do school uniforms cost in Japan and what do students need to buy? What are the rules for Japanese school uniforms?

We'll visit the KANKO Uniform factory in Okayama for a tour inside as they make a Sailor Fuku outfit from factory to classroom.

High school students also like to wear uniforms outside of school and there is a market for non-school uniforms for their cuteness and style. We'll join some uniform models in Harajuku, Tokyo and ask them what the latest Japanese youth trends are as well as why they prefer school uniforms to their own clothes.

00:00 Start
00:55 Inside Japanese High School Classroom
01:20 What's so special about uniforms?
01:42 Girl's Sailor Fuku Uniform
02:15 Boy's School Uniform in Okayama
03:27 Why some don't prefer uniforms?
03:51 Why Japanese Love School Uniforms
05:35 School Generational Divide on Uniforms
06:48 Inside School Uniform Factory
07:05 Sailor Fuku Uniform History
10:35 School Uniform Costs in Japan
11:10 Uniform Production Schedule
11:46 School Uniform Trends
12:16 Harajuku, Tokyo - After School Uniforms
12:44 What's in fashion now?
13:23 She likes Ribbons!
14:19 Gakuran, Student Uniform
15:28 Japanese School Uniform Rules
16:04 USA & School Uniforms?
16:49 What do you think?

#schooluniforms #onlyinjapan

[aces]

My father, born and raised in USA. His father from Japan took him to Japan for his college years. I remember him telling me when I was a child that uniforms were good, cannot tell the rich from the poor, everyone wears the same thing. I’m a senior now but he was so right.
Great content John, enjoy and appreciate all your hard work in producing quality work. Sue

[Will_Zhao]

The content, the editing, the camerawork, this feels like a proper documentary, amazing!

[Peso]

The impact of anime/manga really shouldn't be discounted in piquing the interest and fascination of Western audiences towards Japanese uniforms. The mangaka/artists took that "cute" factor of Japanese school uniforms and ran with it, sometimes very wildly, especially with the colors.

[Kalani_Saiko]

Another thing I noticed about these uniforms is the quality. Even the most simplistic uniforms have pretty good quality. A lot of the school uniforms worn on a daily basis in Australia are pretty cruddy quality wise and unlike the US, nearly every school, public and private, primary and secondary have to wear uniforms.

I probably wouldn't have hated them so much if they were more like this 😅😅

[vevfd]

Very interesting seeing how the uniform are viewed by the kids in Japan. Here in Montreal (Canada) uniforms have long been a Private School thing, but in the last 10-15 years have become more and more common in Public Schools. They are not very popular with the kids wearing them but their parents do like the simplicity and not having to deal with the fashion rat-race.

[user.piyopiyo]

7:17 A hundred years ago, in some schools, there was a tradition for upperclassmen to create sailor suits in sewing class and present them to new students. Uniform making by upperclassmen had various purposes and effects, including good practice for upperclassmen to improve their sewing skills, cost savings for new students and their parents, and the formation of connections between upperclassmen and underclassmen.

[ItsLizzy]

When I was in high school in Canada, there was a conversation that started about doing school uniforms in school. Overwhelming amount of students actually wanted school uniforms, they felt they would have less pressure about how they look and what they wear to school. But it was the parents that were against it stating that it would take away individual personality and the cost would make it difficult. Except we found that spending $500 for 4 school uniforms would be less than what parents pay throughout the entire school year for clothes on their kids- which averaged about $1000 per year. It would save parents half and would have made it easier for kids to manage social life and feel less pressured about how they looked.

[Steve-]

No need to worry about what to wear each day, and no peer pressure to look cool with the latest fashions. Great idea, it's pretty common in private and parochial schools in the U.S.

[sujoygupta]

I taught at schools in Okayama almost 20 years ago. This video is really going to have a special place in my heart, John. Thank you for showing Okayama some love. It was so lovely to live there. I miss Okayama so much.

[jkoadventures]

Excellent!! I learned a lot from this episode. I understand the benefits of school uniforms & appreciate the ability to “recycle” & reuse the uniforms by siblings. So smart!

[jason_from_canada]

It's interesting to see how the uniform is viewed in Japanese culture. I found it interesting that they enjoy wearing them as they associate it with their youth, so it really is the uniform of youth. John rockin' the gakuran! Enjoyed the episode! 👍

[kinakomono]

I agree about sense of unity. that's true. When you're all in uniform, no one is rich and no one is poor. You're all wearing the same thing of the same quality. No one has jordans, no one has gucci bag etc etc. Also that female Autumn uniform looks so good and comfy.

[carolineindacityphx]

Such an informative episode. I too had to wear a school uniform although in Malaysia, all schools wear the same colors. It is standardized in the entire country. The students that you interviewed showed great pride in their school identity. And I love that the students seem to want to hold on to their youth!

[_D_]

Fantastic episode, John! High school uniforms are such an iconic visual part of Japanese culture, so it's great to not only see how they're made, but also hearing the thoughts of actual Japanese students. I've always loved the official and proper look of the uniforms.

[sanashi]

We have school uniforms here in the Philippines although nothing as cute as the Japanese uniforms. I kinda understand now why school uniforms in anime (especially for girls) tend to be cute or awesome looking as that's just how it feels like in the real world. If our school uniforms were like that, I'd have wanted to keep wearing them after classes, too! I think it's cool there's non-school uniform fashion there too and it also sounds unique! Outside of Japan that'd probably be thought of as some kind of cosplay though.

[Muslim_Student]

I'm from the middle east and I find Japanese culture very interesting and one of my favourite things is the diligence of the people do work hard and well maintained environments and keeping clean

[like.clarkwork]

I respect that the students there like having their uniforms and associating it with school spirit and unity. The comparison to a varsity jacket is spot-on as well. I've never seen someone wear their varsity jackets (or any high school merchandise) outside of high school except for events like homecoming and such, but people still treat their high school clothes as commemorative items. Great video! It's making me wish I had uniforms in high school!

[studiojsiegel]

So cool to see Matt in this episode! I love his podcast! I'm impressed by how put together the vast majority of Japanese people are at all ages!

[cinnamon_enjoyer]

It's interesting seeing how people in Japan love their uniforms. In my country, where most if not all students wear school uniforms, it is a maturity thing. When we were young, we felt confined by our uniforms, and thought that it limited our ability to express ourselves. As we age, we more understand that the uniforms unite us. Now as a third year, we see our uniforms as a proud expression of our love of our school and our harmony with the other students. I am glad to see that they seem to have such a mature attitude so early on...

[kezbot]

An interesting insight into the conception, production and use of Japanese school uniforms. I liked the kawaii pink one! I agree, it would make you feel a closer connection to your school with a sense of pride for students to wear them.