Every month, I would line up, waiting to have my eyebrows checked. The inspection was to see if I had plucked, shaved or even drawn on my eyebrows. If my eyebrows were shaped too well, or were “on fleek”, my name would be ticked off the list.
After they were done checking brows, my eyes were examined, as they needed to see if the color of my eyes were natural. They then would look at my ear lobes, so that they can confirm that there were no holes there for piercings.
This may sound absurd, but in fact, it’s a true story, something I experienced every month during my three years at a rural Japanese high school. So, the “they” in the beginning are the teachers, who are in charge of keeping order inside the school. Like in every country, Japanese schools have rules to control students, but in Japan, achieving uniformity is one of the main means of discipline. My school was one of the stricter ones, and prohibited every possible way for students to express uniqueness.
Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash
Other rules
So needless to say, with hair coloring prohibited and hair styles limited, students would be questioned if their hair looked a bit too brown or too wavy. Guys did not have it much easier, not being allowed to grow their hair any longer than their neck. Some teachers threatened students claiming they would trim the tips if they exceeded the length permitted, and I’ve heard cases where some teachers actually kept their promise. Makeup was definitely out of question.
Fingernail inspections were the most ridiculous. After seeing that the nails weren’t polished, teachers would then press students’ nails to the palm of their own hands, to test if the nails weren’t too sharp… I guess teachers think students will one day stab someone with their nails. I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone does, if these inspections continue to take place.
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Secondary Education in Japan
What did the students think of this? Of course we complained relentlessly, but at the same time, we had no choice but to accept these rules. Most of us were used to it, since schools in Japan are obsessed with uniformity, claiming that the lack of uniformity creates a negative learning atmosphere and that physical appearances influence our behavior. These strict rules often start from middle school, from the time when schools begin preparing students for the entrance exams, focusing less on creativity, and more on academics, measured by just filling in a mark-sheet. I think this mark-sheet style education can kill uniqueness, and prevent the students from exploring their true interests. I mean, how are students supposed to figure out what they are passionate about when all the questions are multiple choice, when real life isn’t?
Writing all this reminded me of all the absurd rules, and how it gradually shaped students’ mindset. This information may be helpful when having conversations with your Japanese classmates, helping you understand why some of us think and act in a certain way. I will be writing more about this soon- so if you are interested, stay tuned for my future articles!