This pair of pleated pants is part of a boy's high school uniform, or gakuran. The pants are blue and made of a wool blend. There is no waistband, but they have two front pockets and two back pockets (one with buttons). They are creased in front and cuffed at the bottom. Traditionally, the gakuran is worn along with a matching student cap, although this custom is less common in modern times.
The Japanese school uniform, also known as seifuku, is modeled on European-style naval uniforms and was first used in Japan in the late 19th century. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the country was flooded with many styles of Western dress, especially long dresses and trousers. Styles were sometimes mixed; students would wear either Western style uniforms or clothes showing both Western and Japanese influence. Today, school uniforms are common in many of the Japanese public and private school systems.
