Sailor fuku

The Sailor fuku (セーラー服, Sērā fuku^?, sailor clothing) is what is internationally known as a style of Japanese school uniform widely used by Japanese students. In Japan, the expression is a wasei-eigo phrase from a rough Japanese transliteration of the English word for "sailor" (セーラー, Sērā ^?, from the English "Sailor"), and originally also designates the sailor's uniform itself. In some Japanese schools, the uniform is strictly used for girls in middle and high school (although some wear it as common clothing). It is usually composed of a blouse with a sailor collar and a pleated skirt.

The sailor fuku was introduced as a school uniform in 1921 by Elizabeth Lee; director of the Fukuoka Jo Gakuen School (福岡女学院). It was modeled after the uniform worn by the British Royal Navy at the time, when she had an experience as an exchange student in the United Kingdom. This uniform was part of a modernization program. Today, these uniforms are world famous, as they are used in both public and private schools.

Features

At the top of the uniform there is a ribbon that comes in different colors and shapes. The most typical is a large knot in the front. Some schools have a thin bow over the neck that fastens together with a small cross in the front.

The socks worn with these uniforms are usually navy blue or white. Recently, navy blue tights are considered better, because the legs appear slimmer with dark colors.

The shoes that girls wear are generally chocolate brown or black moccasins.

In many areas, students are not required to wear school uniforms to attend classes. When uniforms are required, many boys wear white shirts, shorts, and caps. Uniforms may vary due to job, environment and occasion. Young men tend to wear more formal clothing in the group photo than in most classes of the year. The male uniforms for juniors and veterans consist of a military-style suit. For women, this suit is sailor style and inspired.

Similar to the male uniform, called gakuran, the sailor fuku (or sailor suit) bears many similarities to various military-style uniforms used in the navy. The uniform usually consists of a blouse topped by a sailor-style collar (襟) and a pleated skirt. However there are some variations in winter and summer in which the sleeve length of the shirt and fabric are adjusted as necessary. Usually a scarf goes around the torso and is tied in the front of the blouse. Although the handkerchief can be changed for ties, long knife ties (also known as "Texan ties"), or simply bows. The most common colors are navy blue, white, gray, red and black.

Sometimes they are also included as part of the uniform: specific shoes, specific socks or other accessories. Socks, if specified in the uniform, are normally navy blue or white and shoes are normally black or brown.

Cultural significance

The sailor fuku carries a nostalgic characteristic for former students and is commonly related to "carefree youth". Imitations of sailor fuku are a popular costume for Halloween, cosplay and other costume parties and are a big seller in department stores throughout Japan.

Because school uniforms are items very prone to fetishism, it was very common to find illegal establishments where second-hand uniforms were sold (known as burusera); although some changes in Japanese laws have made such practices very difficult to carry out.

The uniform in general is seen by some young women as a symbol of conformity, which is why it has been modified by rebellious students as a way of showing individualism. Such changes include increasing or decreasing the skirt, rolling up the sleeves, removing the ribbon, hiding patches or medals under the collar, etc. In past decades, brightly colored variants were also adopted.

Otaku culture

The sailor fuku, along with other styles of school uniforms, has played a great and undeniable role in otaku culture and a sexual trigger as evidenced by the enormous amount of anime, manga and doujinshi that feature characters in this uniform. Some examples are:

• The popular Sailor Moon series, in which all the main characters wear very elaborate sērā fukus when they become super heroines.
• The song "Sailor Fuku or Nugasanaide" (No Desgarres el Sailor Fuku!), sung by the provocative group Onyanko Club, was very popular in the 80's, some of its members also used it regularly.
• In comics and series like Negima!, Kodocha, Yu Yu Hakusho, Neon Genesis Gospeln, Azumanga Daioh, Urusei Yatsura, Ranma1/2 or Onegai Teacher we can see stylized versions of the uniform.
• The Hikaru Shidou character at Magic Knight Rayearth.
• The popular TV series and films Sukeban Deka presents young criminals in uniform.
• One of the protagonists of Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi (known in some countries as Aome), is almost always seen in sērā fuku, in this same series we can see the cast characters Yuka, Eri and Ayumi use it too.
• The peculiar series of manga and comic Di Gi Charat shows the character Petit Charat using it.
• During school days, the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! series also shows it.
• In the famous series of video games Street Fighter it is possible to see one of its fighters, Sakura Kasugano, dress a traditional sailor fuku.
• In another series of famous video games, Tekken, is shown in this uniform to Asuka Kazama, Ling Xiaoyu and Miharu Hirano.
• Another series of video games, The King Of Fighters, shows a girl using that uniform, especially in her last appearances: Athena Asamiya.
• In the anime Agent Aika series, you can see that the "Delmos" present a version of the sērā fuku.
• In Tokyo Mew Mew, the protagonist Ichigo Momomiya, almost always uses a traditional sērā fuku.
• In the Lucky ☆ Star series, the opening is related to this uniform. The title of the song is "Motteke! Sailor Fuku". During the same series, you can see clearly when passing from the episodes when they change from winter uniform to summer uniform and vice versa.
• Jigoku Shoujo (Enma Ai) when you saw a sērā fuku (black).
• In X-1999 Arashi Kishu saw the lengths of the entire series (except for a scene at the end) the sailor's uniform, but with a very long white and skirt.
• In Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu many characters such as Haruhi Suzumiya, Yuki Nagato or Mikuru Asahina use this uniform.
• In the Maria-sama ga Miteru series (Marimite) this dress is also very often used.
• In Fruits Basket you see Tohru Honda and his companions are often seen in this uniform.
• In Zero not Tsukaima Saito buys Louise a summer Sailor Fuku but ends up giving it to Siesta.
• In the visual novel Dangan Ronpa, Sayaka uses a sailor fuku. In Dangan Ronpa's second delivery, Ibuki uses a sailor fuku. The sailor fukus of these girls are varied in colors.
• In the Yandere Simulator game, all female students wear Sailor fuku.