page_title: School uniforms in Japan
section_title: Cultural significance
hierarchical_section_title: School uniforms in Japan / Cultural significance
caption_attribution_description: 嵐山，洛西。 高校生？
context_page_description: The Japanese school uniform is modeled in appearance similar to that of the European-style naval uniforms and was first used in Japan in the late 19th century, replacing the traditional kimono. Today, school uniforms are common in many of the Japanese public and private school systems. The Japanese word for this type of uniform is seifuku.
context_section_description: Various schools are known for their particular uniforms.  Uniforms can have a nostalgic characteristic for former students, and are often associated with relatively carefree youth. Uniforms are sometimes modified by students as a means of exhibiting individualism, including lengthening or shortening the skirt, removing the ribbon, hiding patches or badges under the collar, etc. In past decades, brightly coloured variants of the sailor outfits were also adopted by Japanese yankii, sukeban and Bōsōzoku biker gangs.
caption: Kogal culture: Japanese schoolgirls wearing short skirts and loose socks
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