A pair of nonprofit organizations announced Thursday they have launched a project aimed at combating unreasonable school rules, such as banning certain hairstyles and setting a fixed length for school uniform skirts.
The project, aimed at raising awareness of what the groups term "black kōsoku (black school rules)," was initiated in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a female high school student in Osaka who was forced to dye her naturally brown hair black. The project seeks to spur discussion about how outdated school rules should be adjusted for a new era.
"Students are feeling uncomfortable about the way some schools give guidance, such as publicly denouncing students who break school rules or ordering them to submit documents proving their natural hair color," said Chiki Ogiue, one of the organizers.