Weird Japanese School Rules Explained: Uniforms, Hair, Part-Time Jobs & More

Weird Japanese School Rules Explained: Uniforms, Hair, Part-Time Jobs & More — YouTube

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I'm going to share five strange Japanese school rules that I personally experienced as a student. Some of them might surprise you. Let's see how they compare with schools in your country!

Dress Code Rules#

In Japan, many schools require uniforms, and I wore them in both junior high and high school. When I was in junior high, the rules weren't that strict. But in high school, teachers checked our outfits all the time. At the school gate in the morning, during homeroom, or even when passing a teacher in the hallway—you could be stopped anywhere.

The rules were very detailed. Of course, we had to wear the designated uniform. Socks had to be plain white, undershirts also had to be plain white, belts had to be the official school belt, and we weren't allowed to wear the uniform in a messy way. Female students were often told off if their skirts were too short and showed their knees. If you broke the rules once or twice, you might just get a warning. But if it continued, you had to write an apology, your parents could be called in, or you'd be sent for special discipline.

I often wore black ankle socks or a non-regulation belt, but I always kept a pair of white socks or something in my bag. Whenever there was a sudden inspection, I'd quickly change them. If I spotted a teacher, I would hide or quickly fix my appearance. Honestly, I often thought, "Why do teachers care so much about these small things?" but still, I had to come up with little tricks every day to avoid being caught.

Hair Rules#

Next are hairstyle rules, which many schools have. Most schools ban dyed hair and flashy hairstyles. My high school was no exception. Dyed hair was forbidden, and unusual hairstyles were strictly policed.

First, about dyed hair. If a student was caught with dyed hair, the school would immediately contact their parents. Since most Japanese people are naturally born with black hair, the student had to dye it back to black right away—or in some cases, even shave their head. Of course, students found ways around it. Some sprayed their hair black just for school, or only dyed it during long holidays.

Hairstyles were restricted too. For boys, the "two-block" cut—shaved on the sides and long on top—was banned, as was growing out the back of your hair. I still remember one classmate who showed up one day with a stylish new haircut, saying, 'Looks cool, right?' The very next day, the teacher caught him and—boom—his head was completely shaved. That image is still burned into my memory.

And here's something surprising: the "natural hair certificate." Students who were born with brown hair or curly hair had to submit a document signed by their parents to prove it wasn't dyed or permed. One of my friends actually had to hand in this kind of certificate.

Part-Time Job Ban#

This rule depends on the school, but some ban part-time jobs after classes. Legally in Japan, you can work once you're 15. But at my school, part-time jobs were not allowed. Still, many classmates secretly worked because it was hard for teachers to find out.

I personally didn't feel the need to work in high school, so my first job was after graduation, during the break before university. Later, I worked in many jobs, from physical labor to teaching.

In some cases, family circumstances were taken into account. If you applied and the school approved, then you were allowed to work.

Other Things Teachers Scolded Us For#

Apart from the official rules, teachers often scolded us for other things too. For me, it was sleeping in class. I wasn't doing it on purpose—I just couldn't fight the sleepiness. If I was caught, I sometimes got yelled at and called after class. Other students were the same. Depending on the teacher, you might be forced to stand for the rest of the lesson or solve a problem on the blackboard.

Looking back, I wonder why I slept so much. But our schedule was extremely intense, so maybe it was only natural.

Driver's License Ban#

Another common rule was that students were not allowed to get a driver's license or motorcycle license. In Japan, you can get a moped license at 16 and a car license at 18. So technically, some students were old enough. But many schools banned it, or required permission.

Still, some students secretly got their licenses—and I was one of them. My family already had a scooter, so when I turned 16, I went ahead and got my moped license, even though it was against the rules.

It was pretty simple. You attend a short lecture in the morning, take the test, and if you pass, you get your license that same day. I was excited, but of course, I couldn't ride it to school—that would've given me away immediately. So I just used it for short trips around the neighborhood.

By the way, in junior high, even riding a bicycle to school was banned. Walking was the only option. In high school, if you wanted to commute by bike, you needed a permit, and you had to wear a helmet.

No Leaving School#

Finally, many schools also have a "no leaving campus" rule. At my school, once you entered the gate in the morning, you couldn't leave until classes were finished in the afternoon. For lunch, you had to bring your own bento, buy something before school, or eat in the cafeteria.

But of course, some students slipped out. Teachers knew this, so they patrolled popular spots like convenience stores to catch anyone sneaking away.

In this article, I introduced five strange school rules I experienced in Japan.

Back then, I often felt annoyed, especially by the rules about appearance, and I sometimes broke them quietly. But now, things are changing in Japan. Diversity is valued more, and it's less common for schools to force students to shave their heads or dye their hair back.

Closing Remarks#

Thank you for reading my article today. I hope you found the information helpful.
If you have any questions, please share comments on Twitter or YouTube.
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