Schoolgirl Hemline Research

Mass media trend watching site Nikkei BP Trendy recently engaged in a spot of schoolgirl thigh and skirt photography, sure to put even the hardened voyeurs of 2ch to shame, and the data gathered may be of interest.

Ostensibly the report examines the purported trend towards longer skirts, as it has been said that very short skirts have come to be seen as “crude”, using some fieldwork in Shibuya to gather data.

Most of this extensive data was in fact photographic in character (see below).

The research’s findings were strung out into 11 pages, so the condensed version may be more appropriate:

Hemlines are not lowering, though seasonal variations are apparent. Nobody questioned had even heard of girls opting for more modest lengths.

The uniform skirts are generally fairly long, so they must be adjusted; the chief method seems to be “rotation”, or rolling up the skirt with a belt, which is all concealed under the top, and offers the convenience of being able to pass any uniform inspections, or be able to be adjusted to and from school.

Another method is simply to adjust the skirt’s length by cutting. The young lady in the first picture used this method in conjuction with two rolls.

We also hear that none of those questioned (some 20 girls) wore mini-skirts when given free choice out of school, instead opting for shorts and trousers.

Also, only a few still wore loose socks, which by now are entirely out of fashion.

Another finding is that many short skirt wearers are entirely unafraid of peeking, as they wear “konpan”, that is, kon (navy blue) coloured pantsu, actually short spatsu (leggings).

It should be noted that the researcher responsible for this outstanding journalism was a lady, which may explain the brazen nature of the shots and her having the temerity to approach her research subjects, even being granted access to their very thighs.

Were she a male, doutless she would be gracing the pages of Itai News by now…

The research data itself is extensive:

The good source.

You may wish to continue your research into this fascinating trend with some of our own schoolgirl research pieces conducted in conjunction with the Vippers and 2ch: the observation gallery, the thigh gallery, the tights gallery, and, of course, the skirt failure gallery.