Japan is a country widely known for its strictness to work, the hard work of the country’s residents, and its attitude to a single style. The reflection of the style of Japan can be seen in the architecture, interior, and, most notably, in the uniform. The Japanese strive for a uniform style of clothing in the workplace, even at the smallest enterprises, in schools, starting from first-graders and ending with high school students. Among students, wearing a uniform is considered pride, and some young people entering universities pay attention to the uniform they will wear during the academic years. Wearing a uniform unites the people of Japan and contributes to various functions, such as the harmonization of society.
The Japanese uniform is attractive because there is no single, strict uniform that all students of the country should wear. Each school has its uniform, which changes depending on the season, and has accessories that make it attractive. There are different schools in Japan: municipal and private. They differ not only in the form of financing but also in the strictness of the rules. Nevertheless, in almost every school, students are prescribed for attending classes in specialized clothing – school uniforms.
In the 19th century, the Japanese government decided to introduce compulsory school uniforms in all schools. Lee et al. (2) state that in Japan, school uniforms were first established during the Meiji period in 1868-1912. Since then, the uniform has been widely distributed throughout the country, even though there have been attempts to reform school uniforms. “Japan is often said to be a land of contrasts, a place where the new exists side by side with the old” (Davies 33). This statement indicates that the school uniform was adopted in the Meiji era and still exists, only its appearance and materials of manufacture are newer and improved.
Young people respect uniforms because it emphasizes belonging to an educational institution. It was decided to introduce it more than a hundred and fifty years ago. The idea was simple: children should not focus on the inequality of parents who cannot dress up children in the same way. Everyone has the same clothes, which means that children pay more attention to classes. In addition, uniforms and the rules of school life contribute to the development of a sense of harmony and collectivism in children. The school uniform is aimed at presenting the norms and rules of educational institutions and forming a culture of harmony of which students are a part (Namba 92). It should be remarked that the composition of classes changes every year. It is believed that this way children communicate more with each other, acquire communication skills. And this, in turn, leads to creating an atmosphere of patriotism towards the educational institution.
The requirements for the uniform are usually quite strict, so it is challenging to imagine that a student in Japan came to class dressed differently or violated the accepted rules. High school girls diligently shorten their uniform skirts, although the administration vigilantly monitors their length in some schools. Nevertheless, students wear their uniforms with pride, being another business card of the Land of the Rising Sun. Parents from an early age probably explain to the child how important it is to wear a uniform, how honorable and strict it is. Of course, children grow up and try to transform their form somehow to differ at least minimally from their peers, but one way or another, they continue to wear it throughout almost their entire life. This commitment of the Japanese to wearing a single clothing style clearly distinguishes them from other states that are not so focused on harmony in the country.
A school uniform is a good idea for many reasons. First, is that it unites society and brings harmony into it. “… wearing the same clothes as others can lead to contentment: concealing economic inequality and lessening bullying and discrimination” (Namba 92). Although many may say that students become faceless with the same school uniform and do not differ, the same school uniform does not distinguish someone’s financial capabilities. It makes everyone equal to each other, and self-expression occurs at the expense of hairstyles and accessories. “… others object to such practices because of the belief that students’ freedom of expression is important for their ability to develop and embrace their characteristics” (Lee et al. 3). Girls can apply unusual makeup that will reflect their personality. In the case of boys, they can stand out due to stylish backpacks or shoes.
Second, it is the fact that students of different schools and universities feel proud of their educational institution and motivate them to study well. This is especially common in those schools where famous Japanese people studied. “Japan’s school uniform style is generally changed once a decade” (Cui et al. 3). Naturally, it is pleasant for modern students to demonstrate that they will probably be able to achieve what famous people and ancestors once achieved. Moreover, it motivates them to study better to justify their studies at a prestigious educational institution. “In addition to prestige, school uniforms symbolise purity” (Sabic-El-Rayess et al 2). The clean, ironed uniform is a very significant moment for Japan, symbolizing the seriousness of this nationality.
Besides the positive aspects of wearing a uniform, there are also several negative aspects. According to many people, including parents of school students, uniforms do not allow children to express themselves by wearing different clothes. Although some people support wearing a uniform, since self-expression at the expense of clothing is not correct, there is also an opposite opinion. In addition, some children remain dissatisfied that they are obliged to dress like everyone else. Another disadvantage is that parents will need to incur significant financial expenses. “Education development organizations note that the direct cost of uniforms is a burden…” (Sabic-El-Rayess et al 2). This is due to the fact that in addition to the school uniform, which is necessary during training at an educational institution, parents will need to buy ordinary clothes so that the child can wear them during his free time from school.
In conclusion, the people of Japan are very fond of wearing a uniform and are happy to use this opportunity. Schoolchildren of different ages, employees of other companies from the smallest to large corporations, civil servants-all of them strive for harmony in society and create this by wearing a uniform. Provided that all people wear a uniform, there is no possibility of discrimination based on financial capabilities. A person is valued not for how expensive his clothes are but for his personal qualities. Subsequently, many quarrels and negativity are excluded, which means that there is peace and harmony in society.
Works Cited
Cui, Yumei, Fang, Xuemeng, Zhou, Honglei. “Green Design and Sustainable Development of School Uniforms.” Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 301, 2018, pp. 1-4.
Davies, Roger. Japanese Culture: The Religious and Philosophical Foundations. Tuttle, 2016.
Lee, Sun, Ito, Takahiro, Kubota, Kohei, Ohtake, Fumio. “Reciprocal And Prosocial Tendencies Cultivated By Childhood School Experiences: School Uniforms And The Related Economic And Political Factors In Japan.” International Journal of Educational Development, vol. 83, 2021, pp. 1-13.
Namba, Tomoko. Fashion, Identity, and Power in Modern Asia. Edited by Kyunghee Pyun and Aida Yuen Wong, Macmillan, 2018.
Sabic-El-Rayess, Amra. “School Uniform Policy’s Adverse Impact On Equity And Access To Schooling.” A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 2019, pp. 1 18.