Japanese Dress Code: Business, Marriage & Funeral Attire

Japan is a traditional country with some unique conservative values. The values prevail in every sphere of life, including lifestyle, food habits, dress style, behavior, business, etc. If you go there from western culture, they also expect you to maintain Japanese culture at most. This will make you in a friendly, better position with them and ensures a welcoming environment.

People of other countries often ask before a trip to Japan that how to dress in Japan? Let’s help you to get some ideas about the dress code for Japan on different occasions. I know every country and continent has these dress codes too, but in Japan, it goes beyond this in some manners.

For business attire, Japanese people seek mostly light color and formal design of cloths. The way of dressing is in a different way from other people in western countries. The dissimilarities are in their dressing style and color. In western countries there are bright, and a variety of color can be accessible, but in Japan, only navy blue and black is the code color for every company.

Men and women both have to be correctly organized and systematic in their attire and get up. Men can wear in a dark black suit with a formal shirt and tie. Businesswomen and corporate lady usually put on skirts with light color top or shirt. But We recommend to put on skirts that are of a regular height that will be in good position in any movement of the body. They can incorporate it with black suits too. In business-attire, heavy make up with too much perfume is not acceptable to apply. Japanese dress code is important to follow in business perspective.

The shoes should be simple to put on and put off. This should not be available with bright design and color. The design should be formal and professional color. Usually, professional shoes have to be slim and made with light design and dark or light color but never bright. For the men, there should not be any holes in the shock and odor. You have to manage the whole attire properly.

Neatness is the crucial factor for Japanese, so always be neat and clean before attending a job interview, working or other tasks like a meeting. They make sure that they iron the dresses nicely so that no curving is available in the dress.

In Japan, Cleanliness and neatness are more important than any other country for Japanese office attire. So you have to be correctly and neatly styled and organized at dress up. Women should not get on high heels instead on flat or pump shoes. Men should definitely go with the formal shoe.

There are two types of weddings in Japan, one is traditional, and the other is modern. In traditional ways, the marriage occurs according to Shinto Priest. Brides wear a wedding dress like a white outfit named Shiromuku. The groom wears a Hakama skirt and a top that has the symbol of his family or ancestor.

For the sake of photographs, they may change several times within the elaborated program with the traditional Kimono or western evening suits or gowns for later reception and so on.

For the Christians, the dressing style is different like western mood. The bride decorates herself with a long white beautiful gown, and the groom is in a lovely morning coat. Though these are not traditional ceremonies, they are popular in Japan too. This style is a little more casual than the traditional ones.

If you are a guest to wedding parties, then you have to check about the style of the wedding program. It may be traditional or modern. On a conventional marriage occasion, you can wear a dress like Kimono to look gorgeous and elegant.

In the modern style of wedding, you may adorn yourself with the western dress, but it includes some implied rules. Men have to go on a dark suit  with white or colorful ties but not black ties.

Women can put on the dresses like the gown or skirts which should be long enough to the knee and light color sandals with heel or flat. Off-shoulder and the sleeveless dress are not encouraged; if you wear these, then you must add a shawl. As the guests, please don’t wear white color, you can take even the black color or another color. They actually don’t forbid the bright color but make sure that the color doesn’t make you overdressed or bombastic. However, you should avoid the casual outfits at the wedding.

People in Japan attend the funeral in traditional dresses too. They reflect the color of sad moments in the program. It is a common and specific culture in all the continents and countries that black is the color of sad moments. They show respect to the deceased person by showing their respect and love by this color.

In a funeral program, men have to wear a black suit that comes with a white shirt and black tie. The color should not be shiny rather matt, and they have to make sure that no luxury eye-catching jewelry or watch can be worn.

The women have to put on a long black dress that covers at least the knees and should be in the right position in every movement. However, the material of the dress should not be bright black or shiny, and there should not be any floral design or luxury touch in any way.

You can wear a neckless made of white pearl and wedding ring at the funeral. Don’t put long neckless. A shoe should not be with high heel, and the makeup should be very standard and low. You should tie your long hair with white or black bands. At the funeral, you may wear a kimono dress too.