Japanese school uniform
The Japanese school uniform or seifuku (制服) is the school uniform introduced in Japan at the end of the 19th century, as part of the of modernization of the country. Currently, school uniforms are almost mandatory in public and private schools. They are also used in ladies' schools.
In elementary school
In primary school the use of the uniform is less strict, sometimes you can even wear common clothes to go to school; when uniform is required they wear white shirts, shorts and a hat. The dress code depends on the environment (by season) and the occasion.
In high school
In high school the usage is different, boys usually wear a dark military-style uniform (gakuran) and girls wear a sailor-style uniform (sailor fuku). However, it should be noted that the word that designates a Japanese uniform is seifuku (制服). These uniforms are based on the military style of the Meiji era, much like European naval styles. However, in private schools different styles are used, some more parochial and others more western and modern.
Seasonal uniforms
There are versions of the summer uniform that are less heavy and more comfortable, preferably with short-sleeved white shirts, and that differ from the winter uniforms that are heavier, and sometimes use coats and long-sleeved black shirts to cover from the cold
Otaku Culture
The Japanese school uniform is known to be part of Japanese culture. Stylized versions of Japanese school uniforms of any kind have existed in the manga and anime, such as Sailor Moon, Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuutsu, Cardcaptor Sakura, Tokyo Mew Mew, Ao Haru Ride, Agent Aika, Toradora, Inuyasha, Lucky ☆ Star Gakuen Alice, Mayoi Neko Overrun, Kotoura-San, Yu Yu Hakusho, among others.
Types of uniforms
Gakuran
The gakuran (学 ラ ン) and the tsume-eri (詰 襟) are the uniforms of many middle and high school boys in Japan. The color is normally black, but some schools use navy blue.
The top has a stand-up collar buttoned from the top down. Buttons are usually decorated with the school emblem to show respect for the school. The pants are straight legged and a black or dark colored belt is worn with them. Boys usually wear loafers or sneakers with this uniform. Some schools may require students to wear collar pins that represent school and/or class rank.
The second button on the top of a male's uniform is often given to a woman he is in love with, and is considered a form of confession. The second button is closest to the heart and is said to contain the emotions of three years of school attendance. This practice was apparently popularized by a scene in a Taijun Takeda novel.
Traditionally, the gakuran is also worn along with a matching (usually black) student cap though this custom is less common in modern times.
The gakuran is derived from the uniforms of the Prussian army. The term is a combination of gaku (学) meaning "study" or "student", and ran (らん or 蘭) meaning the Netherlands or, historically in Japan, the West in general; Thus, gakuran is translated as "western student (uniform)". Such clothing was also worn by school children in South Korea and before 1949 China.