The majority of Japan's junior high and high schools require students to wear school uniforms. Female Japanese school uniforms are noted for their sailor aesthetics, a characteristic adopted in the early 20th century to imitate the popular sailor dress trend occurring in Western nations. The aesthetic also arose from a desire to imitate military style dress, particularly in the design choices for male uniforms. These school uniforms were introduced in Japan in the late 19th century, replacing the traditional kimono. Today, school uniforms are common in many Japanese public and private schools. The Japanese word for the sailor style of uniform is .
History
The usage of School uniforms in Japan began in the mid-19th century. Previously, students wore standard everyday clothes to school: kimono for female students, with for male students. During the Meiji period, students began to wear uniforms modelled after Western dress.