Why Does Everyone Seem to Wear a Uniform in Japan?

Japanese people have quite a strict dress code and a thriving uniform culture. Usually their outer appearance reflects their function so it seems that every job or hobby or even age has a distinctive uniform. Students, salarymen, office clerks, cleaners, transportation workers, department store workers, postal workers, bank clerks - it seems that everywhere you look, Japan is a uniformed society. People also seem to wear standard uniforms for their leisure activities and will be dressed accordingly in appropriate gear.

School Uniforms

Most school children wear school uniforms. Very young preschool children all wear the same brightly coloured cap, usually yellow, so that they can be seen easily. When they enter elementary school, both genders carry classic leather satchels. Once they attend high school, girls usually look like Sailor Moon whereas the boys look somewhat militaristic; at this time, leather satchels are sometimes replaced by more mainstream vinyl knapsacks.  

Uniformity Among the Workers

Businessmen and women wear dark suits and white shirts while sales clerks in department stores wear the store’s uniform. Whether they are working in construction, road work, package delivery, or the post office, most employees wear a particular uniform. By wearing uniforms to suit their jobs, workers feel pride in what they do and are filled with motivation and energy. Many of these uniforms are worn for safety, comfort, and brand promotion. Uniforms also give the consumer a feeling of stability and confidence in the product or service.

Pseudo Uniforms

Apart from wearing mandatory uniforms, Japanese people also like to wear standardized clothing which in itself can be labelled a uniform. They do this either to fit in or to give themselves the greatest chance at success. For example, people who are hunting for work will go to one of many shops that sell “job hunter suits”. Without thinking of an alternative, young Japanese will head to these stores in order to have the utmost chance of being offered a job. This type of store is big business in Japan.

In Japan, you will often see friends, lovers or families all dressing alike. There is comfort in “sameness”.

Uniforms Reflect Leisure Activities

Even on the weekends, people can be identified by their hobbies. For example, hikers generally wear Mont Bell brand hiking boots, tights, shorts, and knapsacks.

In a more extreme example, dedicated Buddhists will wear traditional pilgrim clothing while walking the Kumano Kodo along the ancient trails radiating out from Mount Koya through the Kii Valley to villages along the coast of Wakayama.

Kimono

The most iconic uniform of Japan is of course the kimono; however most people only wear this clothing on their wedding day or on special occasions like New Year’s Day.

Of course, the kimono is at its most beautiful when worn by geisha or maiko in Kyoto.