School uniforms in Japan

The majority of Japan's junior high and high schools require students to wear Japanese 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, particularally 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 seifuku (制服).