I am looking to buy a real Japanese girl's high school uniform.  More
specifically, I want to buy a uniform to the wealthiest and most
prestigious high school in Japan.  I just came back from a trip to
Japan and while I was there I found out that such a school might be a
Christian h.s. called "Futaba-Gakuen".  I had the concierge at my
hotel call them and ask them about buy a uniform but the school
responded that they keep this information VERY private (because they
have had security problems in the past with "hentai" perverts buying
their uniforms).  Japanese high school uniforms are all different. 
Each school has its own crest and when you wear a uniform to a good
school, people know and they treat you differently.

Anyway, onto my question, which actually is multi-part:
1. What is the name of the wealthiest and most prestigious high school in Japan?
2. How does that school supply uniforms to their students? (i.e. does
the school have its own uniform store or does it send its students to
an outside manufacturer)
3. If the school does refer/send its students to a manufacturer, what
is the name of that company?
4. What is the phone number/ email address of that company?
5. What are the item numbers that refer to the school's uniform that
one could use to order such a uniform from the company?

Just a few words to whoever answers these question.  I have searched
quite a bit for this information on my own and while I did I came
across a lot of "costume" or "role-play" high school uniforms that are
FAKE.  These sites sell uniforms that may have the high school's crest
on it, but it is not the actual uniform that the school would provide
to their students.  I want information regarding the real
manufacturer, i.e. someone you would have to give measurements to and
have made.  Also, as I was searching online, I noticed that a lot of
information is in Japanese, so probably someone who reads Japanese
would have an easier time answering this question.  Also, I would like
to request that if a Japanese site is cited in the answer, that a
translation to the relevant parts be provided.

BTW: I AM actually a girl and the uniform is for me to wear.  I am NOT
a perverted guy or something.  Also, I am looking to obtain the
uniform for Personal wear, not for use in a movie or something, so
there should be no copyright issues.

Thank you!

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 22 Mar 2006 21:24 PST

Hello Bethissoawesome,
While I can understand why you want so much to have an actual Japanese
school uniform (seifuku), I can also understand the schools'
reluctance to just let others use their uniforms freely. A school
uniform is in a way sacred to both administration/faculty and students
in Japanese culture. You can find that obvious in anime and Japanese
TV programs. I remember reading that a girl can choose a school not
because of the quality of the education, but because of the beauty of
the school uniform. A uniform often carries the very image and
personality of the school, and to see it being used in sexual
practices is very degrading, with the high sense of honor Japanese
have and all that. I believe you would have to assure the school
involved that you will not use the uniform for dishonorable purposes.

---

Clarification of Question by bethissoawesome-ga on 24 Mar 2006 10:16 PST

I suppose just saying "the uniform is for me to wear" leaves things
unclear.  I am 20 year old Columbia University student, I study
Japanese, and am interested in doing the JET program after college. 
Because I am interested in Japanese culture, I am collecting thing of
cultural significance. (Actually the resting place of all things is in
a glass display frame on the wall of my apartment).  On my most recent
trip to Japan, I bought a kimono and yukata.  I also plan on adding a
shiro-maku and uchikake to this collection someday.  I can't think of
anything more representative of the modern young culture than a
seifuku.  I prefer to have things that would fit me, which is what I
did with the kimono and yukata.  Now, they are in the process of being
framed.  My intentions with the seifuku are the same.  I know how
important the uniform is in the culture, and I would never do anything
to degrade it in anyway.  My intentions are exactly as stated and
above and are in no way dishonorable.  I'm sorry if the first posting
made it seem otherwise; I did not write that myself, a friend posted
it for me, as I just had a concussion and was having trouble using a
computer immediately after it.

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 24 Mar 2006 22:12 PST

Hello Bethissoawesome,
Sorry if I sounded like I was suspicious, but rest assured I'm not. I
was just mentioning that the schools in Japan might feel that they
have something to be suspicious about if someone who is not a student
requests a uniform of their school. Hmmm, does Columbia university
have connections with any Japanese school? Perhaps you could find out
from them what high school is the top one in Japan, as on the
Internet, I have not found any references to them. I'm not sure either
if Japanese schools hire in-home uniform dressmakers, or if they have
it made at another shop. Of course there are many Japanese school
uniform sales sites, though it can't be ascertained if they belong to
any real school in Japan. I will see if I can find a lead though.

---

Clarification of Question by bethissoawesome-ga on 04 Apr 2006 21:42 PDT

I checked with Columbia.  They really only have affiliations with very
few universities/colleges in Japan, but no information on high
schools.  As far as good high schools, Aoyama Gakuin, Keio Shonan
Fujisawa were mentioned by some friends, but they weren't really
certain.  From the limited information I got in Japan, it seems that a
uniform company comes to the school and takes measurements and sends
the finished uniforms back to the school.  However, I can't be sure
that this applies to all schools.

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 05 Apr 2006 06:45 PDT

Hi Bethissoawesome,
Thanks for your input. I myself couldn't really find out which is
really THE most prestigious high school in Japan, much less how to get
their uniform. Even if your target would be the uniform of any one
prestigious school in Japan, I find it difficult to find uniform
resources for such. Since my sources are limited to what's online, I
may not be able to help you beyond that. It would be best to have
contacts in Japan who are in that uniform industry... it appears from
your own case that having friends in Japan may not be enough.

I believe the closest you could get to a Japanese school uniform
online would be at this store:

Cosmates
http://www.cosmates.jp/shop/index/cp-43_90.html 

if it would help a bit. This is all I could get for now. I hope to
chime in later on with better information, though that would be
unlikely. For now, good luck.

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 11 Apr 2006 20:11 PDT

Hello Bethissoawesome,
Please take note of Coconuttree's comment below. I believe that it is
the most helpful information that could be found yet. I could not do
the same. Hope this has helped.

As a commenter here (I am not a researcher), I want to as: WHY?

Wow, you're doing pretty well for yourself as a 20-year-old college
student in N.Y.  You must come from money.

I am a little bit taken aback by the somewhat (at least initial )
suspious reaction of the Researcher to this question (in addition to
the two negative comments from our long time friend and commentater
Horatio :-))

The questioner has asked what i believe to be a very reasonable
question (and BTW has added a very generous price tag)

So if I may make a humble and simple suggestion . Do the necessary
research to find all the answers to the query without making initial
assumptions as to the reluctance of Japanese schools to let Westerners
obtain their uniforms.
 
Also I do not think it is helpful to prejudge the questioner's motivation. 

Yours Truly

Mongolia

Purely for enjoyment's sake I subscribe to a newsletter (and I have no
clue how I ever came across it) from a Japanese mail order company.
Its author/editor is named Peter Payne. He's an American married to a
Japanese, living in Japan with his wife, mother-in-law and two
school-age children, fluent in the language and very familiar with the
culture. He's a former English teacher and his newsletters are just
delightful. He also runs a business promoting Japanese pop culture and
selling various Japanese items and goods through his online store. I
would suggest contacting him to see if he might be able to assist with
this quest. His main site is http://www.jbox.com/ and his email is
tomo_fujita@jlist.com

I'd do it myself, but I'm going to be out of pocket the next couple of
days, and so thought I'd just post this comment for what it's worth. 
Good luck.  Sounds like you have the beginnings of a very interesting
collection.

Cheers,
Byrd-ga

Hello. I graduated from a high school in Japan so I thought of leaving
a comment here about school uniforms in Japan.
I hope I won't be in a trouble by saying this, but the link that the
answerer gave you called "cosmates" doesn't sell real school uniforms.
I went to the website and all the uniforms were obviously for fun to
be used in a costume play and such.

The top 3 wealthiest high schools in Japan should be "Keio" "Waseda"
and "Aoyama-gakuin". I think Futaba gakuen isn't the wealthiest.
Among those 3,  Keio Girl's Senior School
<http://www.gshs.keio.ac.jp/home_e.htm> is one of the best and
wealthiest high school in Japan. It's a girl's school that belongs to
Japan's best university, Keio University. Everyone in Japan know Keio.
Just by saying you go to Keio, they are like "Wow!". Many kids go to
private kindergarden that belongs to Keio university. As they grow up,
they automatically get into Keio senior high school. Most of the
students are thought to be wealthy.

You can see the photos of the uniform here at the website.
<http://www.wasedajg.ed.jp/10_indexf.html>


Aoyama Gakuin senior high school <http://www.agh.aoyama.ed.jp/> is
also a very wealthy school with many wealthy students, yet they don't
have a strict dress code unlike other high schools. Aoyama Gakuin
senior high school is a private Christian high school which belongs to
Aoyama Gakuin university.

They show a photo of the students on their website with description on
the uniform. Here's the link
<http://www.agh.aoyama.ed.jp/seiktu/unifom.htm>
The discription says, "In winter, wear a dark navy blazer, a pleat
skirt which can be any color, and a blouse either white or it can be
any other light color. In summer, wear a navy pleat skirt with either
a white blouse or a polo shirt. As an option, they are allowed to wear
a knit sweater". From what I see in the photo, girls wear short white
socks and a pair of loafer. This school is a very wealthy school with
many wealthy students, yet they don't have a strict dress code unlike
other high schools. Aoyama Gakuin senior high school is a private
Christian high school which belongs to Aoyama Gakuin university.


These three are one of the most known and high-rated schools in Japan. 
However, I wonder if these are the kind of uniforms that you are
looking for. Futaba high school isn't that well-known in Japan
compared to those 3 schools. What I see in Futaba high school is
something like a christian school which rich and somehow spoiled girls
go to. If that is the kind of school that you're looking for, then I
come up with another school, Seishin joshi gakuin (Sacred Heart School
in Tokyo) <http://www.tky-sacred-heart.ed.jp/English/eindex.html>
This school is a cathoric school located in Shirokane area which is
one of the most expensive area with so many wealthy residents in
Japan. This Seishin joshi gakuen consists of a kindergarden, primary
school, junior high school, high school and an university.

Here is the link to a website that shows the uniform of this school.
<http://www.tokyoshigaku.com/shigaku_pg/school_form.asp?s_id=102604>

School uniforms are also popular among Japanese girls. Yes, uniforms
often show their status. Some girls want a uniform of a specific high
school because they find it cute, and ask a friend or whoever who goes
to the school to buy an extra uniform for them. Some girls ask someone
who is graduating from the high school if they can sell their uniform
to these girls who want the uniform. Uniforms of private high schools
are not on sale for anyone. These uniforms are only for the students
who go to the school. However, uniforms of public high schools are
easier to get.
From my experience, how students usually buy the uniforms is that the
manufacturer first comes to the school and measure students. They
measure the student' height, waist etc. After a few weeks or so, the
manufacturer send all the uniforms to the school, and students receive
these custom-made uniforms.

If you want the uniforms, you will either have to find someone who
goes to the school who can possibly help you get the uniform, or look
for it on the internet auction site (the uniform can't be brand new
there though). I don't think the manufacturer will easily sell the
uniforms to you.

Hope this helps a little.

thank you so much.  this helps a lot :D

Hi! I currently attend at one of the Keio high schools, and attended
several other private schools in Japan, and I think I have the answer.
Uniforms are very important in Japan. By wearing it, it makes the
people aware that you go to that school (school seal). They represent
the school in a visual way. Schools like Keio, Seikei, Futaba, are not
only wealthy, but they're very hard to get in, and by wearing their
uniforms people will be like "Wow, that girl/boy goes to
Keio/Seikei/Futaba/etc.!! They must be really smart!". Having their
uniform means that you gained it by being able to enter their school.
And it's also against the rules to sell uniforms to people who don't
go to that school. So for the students, selling their uniforms to
people is really risky. They could get suspended or kicked out of
school for it. So there's a very low possibility that you'll find
someone who's willing to sell their uniform. I'm also pretty sure that
if the school catches someone who doesn't attend at their school
wearing their uniform, they have the right to take it away from you.
So I advice you not to wear "actual" uniforms with real school seals
on them. If anyone sees someone who is obviously not a high school
student, or if a teacher doesn't recognize him/her who is wearing it,
they could report to the school. I'm not sure, but it may be against
the law to buy uniforms like that. But, uniforms from role-playing
stuff doesn't look so fake. You can invest on a uniform that's mostly
navy blue or gray (that's the usual colors of uniforms). The only way
you can get a uniform from a wealthy high school in Japan is to attend
there. If you're a high school student, there's  a chance, but if
you're older than that...I can't think of any way. I'm really really
sorry.