Gakuran is a traditional Japanese school uniform for boys that has been an important part of Japanese culture and history since the Meiji period. It consists of a form-fitting jacket with a standing collar, wider lapels, and buttons down the front, typically paired with loose-fitting pants, a belt, and sometimes a cap. The uniform is usually black or dark blue, but other colors may be used to differentiate between schools. Gakuran is modeled after the Prussian Mecklenburg-Strelitz uniform and is often associated with discipline, order, and academic excellence. The Gakuran uniform has evolved over time, with variations in style and color. In some schools, students may wear a blazer instead of a Gakuran jacket, or a different color may be used to distinguish between grades or clubs. Some schools have also introduced more casual uniforms for physical education or outdoor activities. Gakuran has become a symbol of Japanese school culture and is often depicted in anime, manga, and other forms of popular media. The uniform has also been adopted by cosplayers and fashion enthusiasts around the world. In addition to its cultural significance, Gakuran also has practical benefits. The uniform promotes a sense of unity and equality among students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. It also helps to prepare students for the expectations of the professional world, where dress codes and formal attire are often required.
Japanese culture, school uniform, discipline, order, academic excellence
CITATION : "John Allen. 'Gakuran.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=379143 (Accessed on June 06, 2025)"
Gakuran is a specific type of traditional Japanese school uniform for boys, which consists of a matching jacket and trousers in navy blue fabric with standing collars. Etymologically, it is derived from the words gaku meaning study and ran meaning street clothes. Synonyms for gakuran include seifuku, fuku, and shoku. Antonyms for gakuran include casual attire, work clothes, and sports wear. Cognates for gakuran include hakama which is a type of divided skirt that is traditionally worn with a haori coat and obtaini, a traditional Japanese outfit. Variants of the word gakuran include taiso, a type of loose-fitting military-style school uniform, and a 'bo-fuku', which is a sailor-style school uniform.
Etymology Morphology Gakuran Japanese Uniform Semantics Syntactic Variations Language
The word “Gakuran” is an important part of Japanese culture and history and its formation is derived from two distinct yet interrelated words, “Gaku” and “Ran”. The word “Gaku” is derived from the Chinese character “学” (gaku) which means learning, while the word “Ran” is derived from the Chinese character “蘭” (ran) which means orchid. This new hybrid word has since evolved to incorporate elements of both characters and its meanings include “scholar” and “scholarly dress”. The word first appeared in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and its associated clothing is still commonly worn to this day. Within the context of linguistics, the word “Gakuran” combines both morphological and etymological elements. From a morphological perspective, it consists of two parts (gaku and ran) that combine to form a single unit. From an etymological perspective, “Gakuran” is derived from two distinct words (gaku and ran) whose meanings have been fused through the incorporation of elements from both characters. Similarly, from a historical perspective, “Gakuran” is associated with the Meiji period, indicating its emergence and long-standing relevance in Japanese culture.
Etymology, Morphology, Gakuran, Japanese, Pragmatics, History
Gakuran, also known as the tsukeshōzoku, is a type of formal Japanese school uniform for boys. It is modelled after the Prussian Mecklenburg-Strelitz uniform, and can be described as a knee-length, double-breasted, pressed or starching black or navy lacquered jacket with matching or a sharp contrasting white trousers and a black cap. Equivalent words of Gakuran in other languages include: Kautskostrój in Polish; Uniforme Escolar in Spanish; Uniforme Scolaire in French; 聖服 in Chinese; Uniforme da Scuola in Italian; учебный костюм in Russian; Schooluniform in Dutch; Schuluniform in German; 学校制服 in Japanese; Colmáin Scoile in Irish; Uniforme Escolar in Portuguese; เสื้อชุดโรงเรียน in Thai.
School uniforms, student dress requirements, Japanese academic costumes, formal schoolwear, tsukeshōzoku, Prussian Mecklenburg-Strelitz, black and navy jackets, white trousers, matched caps, Kautskostrój, Uniforme Escolar, Uniforme Scolaire, 聖服, Uniforme
Gakuran is a type of uniform worn by male students in Japan, especially during their middle and high school years. It is a form-fitting jacket with a standing collar, wider lapels, and buttons down the front. The uniform is usually paired with loose-fitting pants, a belt, and sometimes a cap. Gakuran is usually black or dark blue, however, other colors may be used to differentiate between schools. The style is often used in Anime, comics and manga when drawing characters in a school uniform. This uniform is also sometimes used in cosplay.
Gakuran, Anime, Manga, Cosplay, School Uniform
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