School Uniforms

School starts tomorrow, so today the podcast is all about school uniforms.

This is the seifuku and the gakuran, which are the standard school uniforms in Japan. We’ve seen these in anime, too.

Here are some examples of the “old-school” (so to speak) gakuran with the school cap:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Up On Poppy Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘ello Gov’na

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School uniforms appear in anime to define characters…

Can’t wait to wear my summer uniform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…or as a basis for their designs.

Say your prayers, sailor brats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes characters express their individuality through modifying their uniforms. “Cool and spicy” Amu is the only person in her class to rock those giant socks. The girls of K-ON! all wear the same uniform as each other, but they shorten their skirts as a symbol of youth and freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and notice how they’re still different from one another in terms of their hairstyles, socks, and shoes).

 

Sometimes anime uniforms don’t make much sense, but they still look damn cool.