Hi all, I’m an incoming JET and was wandering for guys if it’s necessary to wear a suit/shirt and tie to work? Or do you get a bit of pass due to being the foreigner assistant? I can’t imagine wearing a suit jacket during Japanese summer humidity yikes ..
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From May to November, give and take, is “cool biz”.
You can probably get away with a short sleeved shirt without a tie in the summer, but as always, ESID.
Everyone hates this phrase but…ESID. The first week or two, go into work full business attire. Read the environment/read the room and take note what other teachers are wearing. Are they all business all the time? Then there’s your answer. Is it business casual? There’s your answer. Are they super casual all the time? Be casual but don’t be the Japanese teacher level of casual. For example, male teachers wearing shorts and t-shirts and slip on sandals? Wear nice pants and a t-shirt.
Basically, always have some sort of formality in clothing no matter how casual your school is.
My school is SUPER relaxed on dress code. Hell, one of the gym teachers has a small forearm tattoo that he shows during school hours (he only covers it when parents are in the building or if there are important guests). I wear t-shirts and jeans or a dress shirt and jeans on most days. I have never been confronted on my attire. However, on ceremony days I go full business suit, which is to be expected.
Lastly, weather is getting warm and I have an arm tat as well. I show it during lessons and during off time and guess what? No issues. I even got complimented on it by the vice principal.
Just read the environment and go from there!
ESID
My school is business casual during the summer. But even now some teachers are still pretty formal. The only ones that are exempt from that are the coaches, one English teacher coaches the soccer team and he dresses more formal until he actually has to coach.
Also, most teachers arrive in workout clothes and then change.
I just wear a regular shirt and some dressy trousers. Only time I wear a tie is when I have to fully suit up for a ceremony. Fuck ties, they’re choking hazards.
Just today, I bought some looser linen trousers and some short sleeved shirts because summer has begun. I honestly don’t think my school cares how we dress, senior high, because I’ve seen teachers wear all sorts. Trackies, crazy pattern shirts, no tie, tie, jeans, etc. Things have gotten crazier in dressage since the temperature got hotter though, which makes sense.
I also have long hair, as a guy, goes down past my nipples. I don’t get bothered to tie it up or anything, can generally do what I want with it.
Not a guy, but in the summer my boe has a no tie policy (though most of my coworkers don’t wear ties in winter either lol). In the summer the boe guys normally wear nondescript pants and polos. The elementary school teachers are in t shirts and track pants and the JHS teachers are in nondescript pants and short sleeve button ups
It’ll depend on your school’s dress code and their leniency on what you can wear. I brought along a suit *and* business casual clothes for my day to day classes and was told that I can teach the classes in my casual wear (anime T-shirt and shorts) and not to be so serious with the students. The office is a mix of track suits, suits, business casual, and comfy attire. They told me that the only time I have to dress up for are for picture day. That took me completely by surprise! So… If you’re able to get in contact with your school or predecessor before you leave, ask them of their dress code. Asking in advance should definitely help if you’re still wondering what to bring with you, especially when it gets hot this coming summer.
I know this is a less satisfying answer, but your predecessor should be able to tell you what the status quo of your school’s dress code is.
I’m really happy reading through these comments because while I’m prepared to wear some thing a little more business professional, I’d much rather do some thing a little casual considering how hot it is out there. Hope I get one of the casual schools.
My school is officially business casual, but in practice, people wear a wide range of stuff – I’ve seen comfy sweaters and slacks, full suits (mainly from the younger teachers), gym clothes, polos and nice jeans, a blazer over a plain white tshirt – and that’s just for the men. Keep it appropriate for school, obviously, and err on the side of too formal for the first week or two, then try to match the formality of the other teachers. If you are unfortunate enough to be at a very formal school, you’ll want to invest in cooling products (you can get menthol body wipes that leave you almost painfully cool for a while after use, plus portable fans and cooling towels), sweat-wicking undershirts, and a nice, big water bottle.
Depends on the school/schools you are assigned.
Most elementary, you’ll only be expected to wear a full suit at the beginning when you do your self introduction and then usually you can transition to sports wear.
JHS – depends
HS or other: usually full suit or business casual.
Your predecessor should know the full answer though so ask them
Never wear a suit except for ceremonies. Don’t smoke the JET crack to that extent – we aren’t full teachers and we don’t need to cosplay as them. Start by wearing a buttoned shirt and tie and suit trousers, and lose the tie and more once you’re able, based on observing other teachers. Simple as that.
don’t be the guy wearing a tracksuit though or sweatpants/hoodie, I personally think it looks terrible and super unprofessional
Depends on the school, in my area the teachers wear hoodies and jeans to my JHSs. But I know the HS teachers/ALTs are a bit more dressed up.
at my Inaka HS, It was button-up until mid-april, then I saw everyone in polos for a warm week. Even one of the JTE’s came in black jeans. So I switched from Buttonups to polos. I presume its for summer. Just keep an eye on the fashon trends and try to stay within those boundries. (although, I have tattoos, so because im wearing polos, I get more people noticing them. so be aware)
Hate to say it, ESID. For the first week or so, you should probably be as well dressed as you can. But from there, observe what the other teachers are wearing and just match them. Depending on how strict your school is, you can go from wearing polos to wearing buttons ups every day. Personally, I have a very flexible principal who allows me to dress as I want due to being an ALT though this does also extend to the regular teachers to a degree where they can have earrings, nail polish not be fully in business casual everyday.
SHS in the inaka – My co-workers who are male would either always wear formal clothes (pants, long-sleeves, tie) or atheltic wear. Females wear business casual to formal as well. I try to wear what they wear, without being as fashionable as most of them.
Prior to departure, I was told to bring 2 pant suits and at least one formal blazer. Not true, I should have definitely brought more. People dress up very well where I am, despite being very inaka.
Everyone at my schools wears suits, so I wear a suit, every day. I honestly don’t mind it at all.
Don’t worry about the weather. We’re allowed to ‘be comfortable’ depending on the weather, so when it was colder some teachers sat with blankets at their desks, and now it’s getting warmer plenty are abandoning the jackets and ties. There’s a few teachers now in just suit trousers and short sleeved shirts, some others with long, some with jackets but no ties, and then a few like me who still have the whole suit. We’ve got AC so I’m really not feeling the heat yet. I’m sure I’ll relax a bit when it starts getting properly hot just for the bus trip and walking to and from home if nothing else.
I’m in 2 rural JHS, the dress code is all over the place. Some older male teachers wear shirts and slacks, some younger female teachers dress quite fashionably but casual in like midi dresses or wide-leg trousers & tshirt (I tend to fall into this camp), but most teachers wear sports gear. When I first arrived I thought my school had a ton of PE teachers then realised it was just everyone wearing tracksuits.
We only wear suits on “special occasions” like opening&closing ceremonies, entrance and graduation ceremony, and open school days.
Legitimately…. Just shower before you come to work. I work at two different schools and at both schools the JETs just stink. One guy wears the same clothes everyday and I don’t think he showers. The girl I work with has such strong body odor that sitting next to her makes my eyes hurt.
I’ve told my boss and he says there’s really nothing he can do. I’ve also told the people I work with and they just said they can’t do anything about it. The Japanese people I work with just say that’s how gaijin smell and they are used to it.
ES: been wearing dresses and nice clothes for the first few months. Now, I just wear a shirt and dark wash jeans. Teachers are always in their track suits. Only the principal wears a button down shirt at school now.
I always have spare sets of clothes in my locker though!
In my case (super rural ES/JHS), most teachers wore sportswear. T-shirts/polos were common. One female teacher always dressed business casual.
My usual was slacks and a dress shirt. I can’t pull off the casual tracksuit look.
Tip: get a suit once you’re in Japan. They have some incredibly light summer suits that breathe very well in the hot weather. Best purchase I made.