Feb 09 (Japan Today) - A public elementary school in the posh Ginza district in Tokyo has decided to adopt new uniforms designed by Italian high-end brand Armani, triggering protests from parents who say they are expensive, local education board said Thursday.
The issue regarding Taimei Elementary School's set of uniforms, priced at over 80,000 yen each including a hat and a bag, was also taken up by an opposition party lawmaker at a Diet session the same day.
The uniforms in question are school-selected attire and students are not obliged to wear them, the board said.
According to the board, the school principal told the board of its intention to change the design of the uniform last summer. The board instructed the school to decide the matter through sufficient talks with the PTA and local residents.
But five cases of complaints were raised from parents, who said there were no sufficient explanations. One said, "Why Armani?" according to the board.
The school has told the board, "From the intention to make a uniform as a 'school of Ginza,' we went around department stores and Armani accepted designing it as a result."
Source: ANNnewsCH
