Terry Ito Column Vol.2 The disappearance of sailor uniforms

You'll be surprised when you take a look at clothing stores around Shibuya and Harajuku.The same style of clothing for both men and women is displayed everywhere. It seems to be trending. The recently discussed "gender" concept has definitely permeated the fashion world. Loose shirts, sweaters, and wide pants. Sometimes, even boys wear skirts! Some of the clothes make you wonder if they're pajamas. I went to MUJI the other day. The silhouette was exactly like pajamas. They're so comfortable, you can wear them at home or out and about. If the size fits, they can even be worn by cohabiting couples. A slender boy with silky hair could easily be mistaken for a woman. Yes, fashion is definitely changing. Unfortunately, the bad boy style that flatters men, like Yokohama Ginbae and Isseifumi (old!), is becoming extinct. I loved it, though. The age of gender has truly arrived!

This trend is also seen in junior and senior high school uniforms.I hardly ever see the stand-up collars and gold buttons of my alma mater, Waseda Jitsugyo. But then I came across a pretty sailor uniform from Tokyo Women's College near Ebisu, which hasn't changed since 5 and was worn by Masako Natsume, with a white sailor suit, blue ribbon, and navy blue skirt. Sailor suits, once a staple, are now rare. They're cute, though. Nowadays, the blazer-style uniforms that are popular with both boys and girls have become the norm. I like the navy blazer style myself, so I have a good impression of it, but a new gender whirlwind is happening...!

Jersey uniforms are appearing one after another.It's now OK for both boys and girls to wear tracksuits to school! It's true that in rural areas, you often see junior and senior high school students wearing tracksuits cycling to school. I always thought the sight of them wearing helmets and speeding along the edges of the fields in winter with their cheeks and noses red was simple and charming, but what about in the cities? Of course, there are schools in Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro at night. Sometimes they stay up late because of club activities. So what's the difference between them and the bad guys in tracksuits who hang out at night? "You're wearing a nice tracksuit, take it off!" "You look good in a tracksuit, why don't you join us?" What kind of things are they saying...?

Even so, when I was in high school, I once went to the school gates with my friends just to see the beautiful uniforms of Tokyo Jogakkan. I have bittersweet memories of watching from afar as a pretty, literary-looking student came out, unable to even call out to her. Nowadays, it's rare to see a sailor uniform skirt fluttering in the wind. I want to get excited, but I can't. What's the fun in going to school for boys? Even girls can show off their true abilities in skirts! In this age of gender, what will happen next?

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry