Appearance Expectations Are Higher in Japan
Japanese culture places a heavier emphasis on appearance than most Western societies. That goes double in the workplace, and double again in schools.
In Japanese business culture, looking professional matters as much as actually being professional (if not more). Appearance is not matter of personal taste. If you dress appropriately, it signals that you understand your role, respect the group, and can be trusted to represent the organization appropriately. If you don’t, it signals the opposite.
This is especially true for ALTs, who are highly visible and often judged not just as individuals, but as representatives of the school, the Board of Education, or the dispatch company that employs them. To say nothing of their role as representatives of their home countries and the outside world!
The Most Common ALT Dress Code
While Every Situation Is Different, prospective ALTs should prepare for the most common baseline expectation rather than hoping for a relaxed placement. In practice, this means highly conservative business formal dress.
For men, that means a suit and tie, neutral colors, and clean, pressed clothing. A white shirt is the safest option, and while ties can show some color, nothing should be flashy or attention-grabbing.
For women, it means a pant suit or suit jacket and skirt that extends below the knee. White blouses are the safest option, and closed-toed flats are non-negotiable.
For everyone, hair, makeup, jewelry, fragrance, and accessories should also follow conservative business norms. If something would stand out at a funeral, country club, or the 1950s, it’s probably not appropriate.
ESID, But Follow the Rules
If you’ve looked into ALT life at all, you should know that the rules are not always as strict as described above. Plenty of ALTs get away with wearing T-shirts, jeans, or shorts. That includes the authors of the current article!
Every Situation Is Different. Some schools are more relaxed. Others are extremely strict. You won’t know which one you’re dealing with until you arrive.
The critical thing to keep in mind that the rules at other schools don’t matter. You won’t be held accountable for their rules, you will be held accountable for the rules set by your schools, Board of Education, and/or dispatch company.
That said, a few general tendencies are worth keeping in mind:
JET placements tend to be slightly more relaxed than dispatch placements. Dispatch ALTs are representing a private company to the schools, so appearance becomes more important.
High schools tend to be stricter than junior high schools, which tend to be stricter than elementary schools. Elementary school teachers spend more time chasing kids around and need more breathable, movable clothing.
Even relaxed schools will expect formal dress for public-facing events like graduation or Open School day.
Those tendencies aside, we recommend you start out dressing highly conservatively. Relax later only if explicitly invited to do so. That means don’t ask your coworkers if you can dress down, wait for them to approach you and tell you it’s okay.
Why? Asking them puts them on the spot. They will feel pressure to say “Yes” even if they really mean “No.” This matters even more if you work for a dispatch company, where your dress code is likely part of the contract with the Board of Education.
Err on the side of caution. You will never get in trouble for dressing too formally, but you absolutely can get in trouble for dressing too casually.
Interviews with Japanese Organizations
The highly conservative standard we’ve been discussing isn’t just for ALTs. It’s the standard for Japanese organizations in general. If you’re interested in working for any sort of Japanese organization, it’s best to get used to it now.
Whether it’s an interview for an ALT position or any other job with a Japanese company, we strongly suggest that you follow these guidelines. Showing up underdressed sends a clear signal that you are not taking the role or the interviewing organization seriously.
If there is ever uncertainty, choose the more formal option.
The Long-Term Reality
Over time, you may earn more flexibility. Some schools relax expectations once trust is established. Some roles allow minor adjustments for comfort or practicality.
But trust and reputation come first.
Looking the part makes everything else easier, from relationships with coworkers, to interactions with parents, to your overall experience at the school. Investing in comfortable business-formal clothing is one of the smartest early decisions you can make as an incoming ALT.
You’ll thank yourself later.
What to Read Next
Dress & Etiquette for Interviews
What recruiters and interviewers are watching before you ever start teaching.
Life in the Japanese Workplace
How visibility, presentation, and group norms affect daily work life.
School Events and Visibility
Why how you show up outside the classroom matters just as much.
If you want a realistic breakdown of expectations, interviews, and workplace norms, these topics are covered in detail in So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 