Survey of 1,064 Junior High and High School Students on the 'Role of School Uniforms': About 60% of Girls Feel 'More Motivated to Go to School' with Good Uniform Design

Summary of Survey Results

- **Blazers are the mainstream uniform type, while traditional uniforms like Gakuran and sailor suits are still present among junior high students.** - **Feeling secure in a uniform is primarily linked to interpersonal relationships, such as 'blending in with peers,' with junior high school girls particularly valuing harmony with others.** - **About half of all students, and a majority of about 60% of girls, feel that a good uniform design 'makes them more motivated to go to school.'**

Conclusion and Insights

School uniforms have evolved in design and style over time. In addition to traditional Gakuran and sailor suits that evoke a sense of history, a variety of designs, mainly blazers, have been adopted in recent years. The design of these uniforms has become a factor that influences students' moods and behaviors.

In this survey of 1,064 junior high and high school students nationwide, the most common uniform type was the 'blazer' (53.7% of male junior high students, 62.1% of male high school students, 63.6% of female junior high students, and 75.9% of female high school students), significantly surpassing the wear rates of 'Gakuran' and 'sailor suits.'

Regarding the sense of security from wearing a uniform, responses like 'being able to blend in with peers' (47.0%), 'not having to be compared based on fashion sense' (42.5%), and 'creating a sense of unity as students of the same school' (33.6%) suggest that uniforms play a role in maintaining calm relationships among students. Furthermore, uniforms de-emphasize visual differences, which seems to contribute to a foundation of psychological safety, as indicated by responses such as 'making bullying or exclusion based on clothing less likely' (20.1%) and 'making body shape or appearance complexes less noticeable' (14.2%).

Moreover, the influence of uniform design on school life was evident in the top responses: 'makes me more motivated to go to school' (46.0%), 'makes me want to fix my hair and appearance' (40.0%), 'makes me feel more positive' (31.8%), and 'makes every day more enjoyable' (30.5%). This trend was particularly strong among female students, revealing that the presence of a uniform has a significant impact on students' psychology and behavior.

Thus, school uniforms play a crucial role in supporting students' school life from both aspects: 'creating a safe and secure environment' and 'eliciting a positive attitude.'