Job Discussion Forums

junan · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Filbert Street

I've a question.

I've been looking at various websites in Japan to secure a teaching job. In one (and lets just say for argument's sake that it's Westgate) they prohibit teachers wearing slip on shoes. Why the flip???!!

Does anyone else out there have uber strict dress codes?? Shocked

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Slip on shoes? In the land where you have to take off your shoes so much? I hope you read that right. Many places require that women don't wear shoes that are toeless, I think, or something like that. And, one eikaiwa that I now requires that you wear a particular color suit. Otherwise, the regulations are simply conservative for the most part.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Seems like a silly rule to me. Slip-on shoes are almost an essential for Japan, and there are many that are appropriate for a professional setting. If your employer absolutely insists on standing by this, you can always wear your laces loosly-tied.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I wonder if they mean the same thing that you are thinking of.
There are shoes here that are backless almost like a slipper. Very trendy but also very casual. That's what they mean I think.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

There's an appropriate quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption:

I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?

Here's a keitai snapshot of the "indoor shoes" I'm wearing today.

They're old as dirt, rusty, worn but damn comfortable. No one even gives me a second glance. I think I'd a attact a lot more attention with brand new Air Jordans...

I find that people generally don't care what you wear -- as long as you DO change shoes when you enter the school. Maybe Westgate is weird that way, but you should see what some of the Japanese teachers around here wear. (My favorite so far: black leather pants and cowboy boots)...

flyingkiwi · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:01 am Post subject:

I think the inside slip-ons I am wearing at the moment were worn by the first-ever ALT to teach at my school...he must of come straight after Commodore Perry. Passed down from generation to generation. But they are comfortable, that's for sure Very Happy