The Power of Uniforms

Name: The Power of Uniforms
ISBN: 9787313212504

万景路Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press · ChinaNov 2019

3.3

Word count: 114K words
Chapters: 51
ISBN: 9787313212504

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Summary

This book traces the history of Japanese uniforms, from their emergence and development to their evolution into the ubiquitous presence they are today. Uniforms have become an indispensable part of Japanese work and life. Broadly speaking, uniforms range from the armor of ancient Japanese warriors to modern military uniforms, workwear across industries, school uniforms, kindergarten uniforms, and even suits. These uniforms have moved the Japanese from being "made to wear" them to accepting and becoming accustomed to them, and further to developing a group consciousness and corporate spirit through wearing them. The sailor-style school uniforms for female students that grew out of uniforms have also become an important symbol of today's prevalent "kawaii" culture. Japanese uniforms have formed a culture of their own. So how did uniforms emerge and develop? What impact have they had on the lives and character of the Japanese people? How have these influences ultimately become positive factors? What impetus have they given to groups, companies, and even the nation? In the continuous evolution and reform of uniforms, how have the Japanese government and companies valued and guided the development of uniform culture? This book comprehensively analyzes and answers these questions for readers.

Editor's review

This book treats “uniforms” as a key to observing Japanese society. It traces the evolution from samurai armor, military uniforms, workwear across industries, school uniforms, and kindergarten uniforms all the way to business suits, examining how uniforms shifted from being “worn” to being accepted and habitual, and how they gave rise to group consciousness and corporate spirit. It also touches on the relationship between schoolgirl sailor uniforms and “kawaii” culture. The narrative balances historical evolution with everyday influence, making it a suitable topical introduction for readers interested in Japanese society and culture, costume history, and corporate management. It leans toward cultural observation rather than a technical manual on fashion design, so readers expecting cutting and pattern-making or operational details of the fashion industry may be disappointed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Japanese society, culture, and everyday customs
Those who want to understand group consciousness and corporate spirit through the lens of dress
Students and teachers working on topics in Japanese culture or costume history
Culture enthusiasts interested in school uniform culture and the “kawaii” phenomenon

Not a good fit for

Professionals seeking technical guidance on garment cutting and pattern-making
Readers expecting a pure fashion trend book or styling guide
Those who only want light, curiosity-driven stories and are unwilling to read cultural analysis

Reading tips

Read along the historical timeline, first mapping the evolution of uniforms from ancient times to the modern era.
When reading the sections on corporate and school uniforms, take comparison notes drawing on your own workplace or campus experience.
Use “uniforms and group consciousness” as the main thread, summarizing the paths of influence the author identifies as you read.
For the “kawaii” culture section, consult related popular culture materials to aid understanding.

About the publisher

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press China · Founded in 1983

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press is an academic publisher that gives equal weight to science and technology and the humanities, with titles spanning biography, documentary literature, popular science, cultural studies, artificial intelligence, and social culture. Representative books in the collection range from spaceflight memoirs such as Carrying Fire to the Moon: My Lunar Journey to historical investigations like Evidence: Uncovering 172 Comfort Stations in Shanghai, as well as academic works including Qian Xuesen's Lectures on Physical Mechanics: Collector's Edition, Tang Dynasty Extraterritorial Astronomy, and Eyewitness to the Tokyo Trial. Authors represented include Michael Collins, Qian Xuesen, Su Zhiliang, Wang Meng, and Pai Hsien-yung. The press emphasizes a combination of scientific spirit and humanistic concern, balancing scholarly editions with general reading. Public information is limited, so this profile focuses on the publishing directions reflected in the books held in the collection.

版权信息
内容提要
前言
第一章制服的往事
一、制服的定义、意义和功能
二、制服的历史沿革
三、皇室制服
四、古代贵族官服
五、公家制服
六、武家制服与武士制服
七、武士甲胄的功用
八、神道教与修验道的服饰
九、相扑力士服、柔道服、空手道服
十、艺妓服饰
十一、和服的制服意义
第二章制服的今生
一、从消防服到各种行业专用制服
二、战时的国民服与妇人标准服
三、空姐服
四、护士服
五、OL服
六、女仆装
七、学生制服的来龙去脉
八、洋服（西服）——日本的国民制服
九、丧服和婚礼服是制服吗
十、从囚服看日本人对制服颜色的重视
第三章制服的衍生产品
一、制服与群体意识
二、制服在国家机器里的角色扮演
三、制服在企业里的角色扮演
四、制服的归属感与忠诚
五、制服文化
六、日本人的制服情结
七、制服的表情
八、制服的时装化
九、制服的行为规范与非语言交际
十、从被动穿到主动穿到仿校服泛滥
十一、制服的停止思考功能
十二、制服力
第四章制服的文化
一、日本人异样的恋制服情结
二、制服“萌”在哪儿
三、制服的诱惑
四、动漫的水手服效应
五、制服的角色扮演功能
六、制服的卡哇伊文化出口
七、AKB48制服的经济效应
第五章制服的未来
一、女子校服的百年路
二、不想裹在制服里的日本人
三、敢问日本制服未来路在何方

FAQ

Is this a fashion design book?

No. The book focuses on the historical evolution of Japanese uniforms and their influence on social culture, group consciousness, and corporate spirit. It is a work of cultural observation and does not provide technical guidance on cutting, pattern-making, or production processes.

How broad is the range of “uniforms” discussed in the book?

Quite broad. As defined in the book, everything from ancient Japanese samurai armor to modern military uniforms, workwear across industries, school uniforms, kindergarten uniforms, and even business suits can be included under uniforms, so readers can see how the concept of the uniform extended across different historical periods.

Do I need to know Japanese history before reading?

No systematic knowledge is required. The book unfolds along the lines of the emergence, development, and evolution of uniforms, and general readers can follow the chapters as they progress. A basic impression of Japanese history from ancient to modern times will make it easier to grasp the social context behind changes in uniforms.

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About the author

万景路 Author

Wan Jinglu is an author for whom only limited public information is available. It is known that his work touches on the field of culture, and one title is currently included in the collection: The Power of Uniforms. Judging from the available information, the book falls under the category of culture and takes uniforms—an everyday subject rich in cultural meaning—as its theme, using it to observe the connections between social customs, professional identity, and group psychology. Because reliable records of his life, nationality, and educational background are lacking, little more can be said about his writing career. The Power of Uniforms, however, appears to proceed from concrete phenomena, combining attention to details of dress with cultural analysis, and should appeal to readers interested in the culture of everyday life. Further material would be welcome to fill out a fuller picture of this author.