Job Discussion Forums

TexasFish · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject: Work attire and Atmosphere

For all of you Japan folks out there-

Are there any schools in Japan that do not require a suit and tie for men to wear to work?

I am all for dressing nice, and dressing to cultural norms, but I have been thinking about going to Japan to teach and just want to get my facts straight.

Also if any of you have worked in a more dress relaxed environment where was it and was it as professional as the suit and tie places.

Thanks for the info.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

None of the teachers in my school wear suits and ties. Sometimes a jacket, though. Sometimes jeans, too.

d

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

For most schools here a suit is not required, but a dress shirt and tie. From there there are a few that only require a shirt with a collar. And the rarest of em let you wear what you want within reason.

I would have to say that if you can expect and be comfortable wearing a dress shirt and a tie you won't have any problems.

Remember the more things like this that one restricts, the less jobs one has open to them.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

The big schools will want to you wear a suit and tie, but you can wear slacks and a shirt and tie. I would say that is the norm. Smaller schools are hit and miss on the tie issue. Usually teaching kids, it's casual.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I wear khakis, dress pants, golf shirts, dress shirts (not at the same time), but no ties. I could probably get away with more, but I don't want to look like a student. In 2 years, I've only worn a tie three times to work. BTW I'm at a university.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

At my secondary school here, suit and *white* shirt, plus serious looking (ie no snoopy designs etc) tie is required. Last year, at a primary school, smart casual was the order of the day. The year before, I was expected to wear a suit.

ESID.

ranmawoman · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 64 Location: San Francisco, CA

What about for women teachers teaching for NOVA?

Lowly Rollie · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Toronto, Ontario

For a Nova interview, a business suit is always a good idea. Once you're there in Japan though, it depends on the branch you're in, and the A.T. you've got. I think that the technical Nova requirements are that women wear a blouse and skirt/dress pants. Nylons are required, even on the hottest of hot, muggy days. And there seems to be some (perhaps unwritten?) rule that your top has to have a collar. If it doesn't have a collar, then you have to wear either a jacket or cardigan. You're supposed to arrive at the branch dressed for work. Make-up is appreciated, but not necessarily required.

But, as I said, it all depends on the A.T. at the branch. I was at Nova, and one A.T. was pretty easy-going but she also set a good example. The next A.T. strictly enforced the dress-code, and would 'write you up' for any infractions. Then we had a male A.T. who was more interested in cruising the female students, and didn't notice anything that didn't directly involve him. The female instructors started wearing dress pants that dragged on the ground, and t-shirt type tops that left 2 inches of their bellies hanging out. He never noticed, never said anything. He himself never wore a suit unless the Area Manager was going to be there that day.