This boy's high school uniform, also known as gakuran, includes two pieces: a jacket and gray wool pants. The jacket has a mandarin collar, five brass buttons down the front, two brass buttons on each sleeve, and three pockets. There are two labels, one in Japanese and one in English. The pants have a zip front, two front pockets, and two back pockets, one with a button. 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.
