Hello again! Now, this isn't the update I originally promised you the other night. Trust me, I'll have a lot more cool things to share with you all after the weekend! Though I do love using this blog as a way to share my wonderful experiences, I also wanted to take some time and add a bit more useful information on ths blog about working as an ALT.
JET Guidelines
It is pretty universal throughout JET that you will dress in business attire at your school. However, the level of business will vary depending on your BOE and school, varying from very business casual and comfortable to strict full-suit attire, so please be sure to check with your own supervisors. The rule of thumb is that you go in on your first day in full suit/formal attire. I.E. suit pants/skirt (to the knees or below!), dress shirt/blouse, ties if you are male, and a blazer. You will be most likely be arriving at one of the hottest times of the year but please bear with it. Usually you will be encouraged to remove the blazer once you've arrived and it is just a formality to show respect.
If you have tattoos however, you will VERY likely have to cover them. I have not heard of many, if any at all, BOEs and schools that allow you to show tattoos. While times are slowly changing in Japan (like the same sex partnerships they're starting to make legal!), tattoos still have a stigma. Even being America or any other form of Gaijin, you should respect the Japanese culture. My teachers all know about my tattoos and they have seen most of them. They don't mind them and they find them kind of cool. But they still do not want the children being exposed to them so please keep this in mind. You may have to suffer through some heat for the first couple of months.
Also, please note that you will need a pair of indoor shoes! In Japan, students and teachers change out of their outdoor shoes at the school entrances and put them in their assigned lockers. Then you put on your indoor shoes before proceeding further into the school. I am lucky to have only one school but please also remember that if you have multiple schools, you will either need to invest in multiple pairs of indoor shoes (not really feasible) or remember to take them with you when you leave each school. That is the easiest and cheapest way to do it, especially because sometimes your visit school won't have a locker for you to leave the shoes in anyway. Thankfully, Japan isn't big on fancy shoes all the time unless it's a ceremony or something really important. I bought a pair of Puma tennis shoes for about $27 at a local sports store and they've been working wonderfully. Some teachers at my school wear tennis shoes, crocs, toe shoes, or other easy to remove/change shoes! If you forget to bring your indoor shoes, you will have to wear the school slippers and they can be very uncomfortable or fall ofs easily.
Warm-Biz vs Cool-Biz
Japanese schools also go through times called "warm-biz" and "cool-biz".
Cool-Biz will be in session when you frist arrive in Japan. It goes from around June to October. Teachers are able to wear short sleeved dress shirts and blouses as well as half-pants/capris and skirts/dresses. Women will still be expected to wear sheer pantyhose if their legs are showing but they're pretty cool and easy to deal with. Men will not have to wear jackets and ties. Even if you see teachers wearing gym shorts and t-shirts though, JETs are still expected to dress a bit more respectably. Again, if you have tattoos on your arms or legs, you will most likely have to suffer through long sleeves and pants so try to find thin, cool fabrics and bring a hand fan!
Warm-Biz begins usually around the start of October and goes until June. This is the transition to fall and winter clothing and you will see the students switch to their winter uniforms at the same time. This usually means you need shirts that go past your elbows at least and, at most schools, means a tie and jacket for the men. Women can still wear skirts and dresses but they are expected to wear black tights/stockings instead of sheer. Cardigans are allowed as well but please be aware that jeans are not to be worn at school at any time.
My School
My school is pretty relaxed with dress code but there was a marked change between cool and warm-biz. The day warm-biz started, the male teachers were all wearing jackets and ties when they had just been wearing short sleeves and open collars. The female dress didn't change a whole lot but I do have to say female teachers have a few more clothing options in terms of derss code year round. Now there are just long sleeves and black stockings as well as more cardigans and blazers. Below I have added some pictures of a week's worth of my school wardrobe.
Monday - Black tights, skirt, sparkly blank tank top, and a warm cardigan!
Tuesday - Black tights, teal skirt, and striped blouse.
Wednesday - A sweater and work pants. Obviously I also put socks on before leaving the apartment!
Thursday - A nice blouse and petti fore-style dress with black tights.
Friday - Black dress pants, black socks, and a nice white blouse.
Overall, I just try to keep my school wardrobe looking professional. My hair is usually down or in a half ponytail/braid. I can't wear it in a full ponytail because of a tattoo on the back of my neck but I notice many teachers wear their hair up to keep it out of their faces. I do find having some of it pulled back to be a bit easier to manage because you will do aisatsu (greetings) at the beginning and ending of class, as well as at assemblies, that will require bowing and it's just very nice to not have keep pushing it out of your face when you straighten up! So this was a look into ALT/Japanese school dress code. Again, every situation is different and, though I do find dress code tends to be pretty similar straight across schools, be sure to check with your own school regarding what is expected of you.
