Survey of 1,064 Middle and High School Students on the 'Role of School Uniforms': About 60% of Girls Feel 'More Motivated to Go to School' Due to Uniform Design; 'Blending In' Tops the List for Feeling Secure

Kanko Gakuseifuku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; President: Shigeru Ozaki; hereinafter: Kanko Gakuseifuku) has released survey data on the 'Role of School Uniforms' in its monthly report 'Kanko Homeroom' Vol. 242, published on the last Tuesday of every month.

Spring is a season for taking new steps through advancement to higher grades or schools. For many students, the 'uniform' they wear every day is a familiar presence that supports their school life. Beyond creating a sense of unity among peers, uniforms play a role in creating an environment where students can spend their time with peace of mind and serve as a trigger for switching their mindset.

So, what value do students actually feel in uniforms? This time, we surveyed 1,064 middle and high school students nationwide regarding the types of uniforms they wear, their sense of security while wearing them, and the impact of uniform design on their school life.

◆Survey Summary◆ ● While blazers are the mainstream, traditional uniforms like gakuran (stand-up collars) and sailor suits are still worn by a certain percentage of middle school students. ● Feeling secure while wearing a uniform is largely related to interpersonal relationships, such as 'being able to blend in with others.' Female middle school students, in particular, place high importance on harmony with those around them. ● About half of all students feel that uniform design 'increases their motivation to go to school,' with the figure rising to about 60% among girls.

◆Conclusion/Viewpoint◆ School uniforms have changed their design and role over time. In addition to traditional stand-up collars and sailor suits, a variety of designs, mainly blazers, have been adopted in recent years. These designs influence students' moods and behaviors.

In this survey, we found that blazers are the most common type of uniform. Regarding the sense of security, the results suggest that uniforms play a role in maintaining calm relationships among students. Furthermore, the survey revealed that uniforms function as a foundation for psychological safety, as they make it less likely for students to be excluded or bullied based on their clothing.

Moreover, the impact of uniform design on school life—such as 'increasing motivation to go to school' and 'making students want to groom themselves'—was significant, especially among female students. This clarifies that uniforms have a major impact on students' psychology and behavior.

In this way, school uniforms play an important role in supporting students' school life by both 'creating an environment where they can spend time with peace of mind' and 'drawing out positive feelings.' We hope to continue to cherish this role of school uniforms as part of creating an environment that supports students' peace of mind and positive feelings.