In 90% of school animes, it doesn’t matter if it’s ecchi or a shoujo, you always find girls with very short skirts above the knee. Have you ever wondered why? Do girls in Japan really wear skirts that short in schools?
Do Japanese uniforms vary a lot from one region to another? What are the rules regarding school uniforms? In this article, we will see curiosities related to Japanese uniforms and the skirts of schoolgirls in Japan.
What is the Japanese School Uniform Like?
The Japanese uniform is called seifuku [制服], it is mandatory starting from junior high school (chuugakou -中学校) and attracts a lot of attention in high school (koukou -高校). Many Japanese uniforms are based on sailor uniforms.
For boys, it is usually a simple formal outfit with a suit or vest, while for girls it is something similar, but with the famous skirt that catches everyone’s attention.
Uniforms have existed in Japan for over 100 years, starting with something formal like kimono, then evolving into military-style uniforms. Until around 1920, a women’s school in Fukuoka began using a different model based on the British navy.
The famous pleated skirts, triangular collars, and neckties became a trend and a trademark of many uniforms in Japan. Japanese schools are full of rules regarding uniforms.
Schools define the size, color, and style of the clothing; deviating from the standard goes against the school rules. Some schools even prohibit wearing blouses and accessories.
Are the skirts of Japanese uniforms short?
In most animes, girls have skirts that are short above the knee, showing their thighs. The skirts are so short that it often becomes easy to see their underwear.
This is not just in animes; during my stay in Japan, I noticed that most schoolgirls were walking around in very short skirts on trains and in the streets, you could even see…
Contrary to what people might imagine, most schools have skirts that are below the knee. What happens is that the girls themselves roll up their skirts to shorten them, for the same reasons that Western girls wear short clothes: for comfort, fashion, and presentation.
Some schools are strict about this issue and do not usually allow certain alterations to the uniform and even to appearance. That’s why you often find students with short skirts outside of school.
Some schools end up having or allowing skirts above the knee. Of course, many girls wear tights and shorts underneath the skirt to avoid perverts. Unfortunately, some girls do not care about perverts. It is common for a schoolgirl to sit in front of you on a train and spread her legs, showing everything.
Differences in the clothing and skirts of Japanese schools
The skirts and uniforms of Japan were largely responsible for the street fashion that emerged in Japan in the 80s. Because of this, many schoolgirls end up being misunderstood, especially by Westerners.
This is because some girls wear skirts so short that they arouse and stimulate male imagination. Some girls do this to generate some income through services (non-sexual) called Enjo Kosai.
Among the Japanese provinces, those known for having shorter uniforms are Niigata, which can reach up to 18 centimeters. Sendai, Mito, and Tokyo also have very short skirts. Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa have medium skirt lengths. And the longest skirts are in Osaka and Kobe.
Skirts are so widespread in Japanese schools that even in winter, girls wear short skirts to school. Some are not foolish and wear thermal pants until they enter the school and then take them off.
Even with tights, some prefer to wear short summer socks to show off their legs. Despite the desire of Japanese girls to wear short skirts, various campaigns and rules against modifying uniforms take place in Japan.
So, the fact that animes have various girls in short skirts is based on the reality of Japan. Of course, animes exaggerate the uniforms and make them super short to attract the male audience.
The uniform is just another click like the gigantic breasts of Japanese women in animes. What do you think about Japanese uniforms? Do you believe the skirts are too short? Do you think there’s a problem? We would love to hear your opinion in the comments and your sharing.
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