School Uniforms, and the Journey Ahead
Published: October 29, 2026
※For this article, we conducted a follow-up interview and will focus on new initiatives and changes that have taken place since our previous coverage.
※Prices are subject to change from those in effect at the time of the interview. Please contact the store directly for the latest information.
“Our business has been around for nearly 100 years.”
When I heard that, I found myself asking Mr. Hirama to repeat it.
It had been a while since my last visit to Hirama Co., Ltd. The shop was once known as “Dance Fashion Hirama,” a specialty store for ballroom dancewear and accessories that many local residents will remember.
Today, the business has relocated and entered a new chapter as a specialty school uniform store.
Yet after finishing the interview, I felt that describing it simply as “a dance shop that became a school uniform shop” did not quite capture the whole story.
Behind this transition lies nearly a century of history, along with the trust that has been built within the local community over generations.
Returning to Its Roots
Several circumstances came together at the same time.
The lease on the former location was ending. Redevelopment was progressing in the surrounding area. And Mr. Hirama, now in his seventies, had begun thinking about slowing down a little.
Rather than a single reason, it was the timing of many things coming together.
“So I thought, why not make a fresh start somewhere new?”
That decision led to the creation of the current shop.
When asked how he felt about ending the dancewear business he had run for many years, Mr. Hirama smiled gently.
“Half of me was disappointed. But the other half felt relieved.”
It was a remarkably honest answer.
Over the years, he had watched customers grow from complete beginners into skilled dancers.
“Everyone just keeps getting better and better.”
Seeing that growth brought him joy. At the same time, he had also witnessed changes in the market, including a shrinking and aging dance population and the rise of online shopping.
There are things you can only see after spending decades in the same business.
Listening to him, I could sense the weight of those years of experience.
▲ The current shop interior, arranged using fixtures and furnishings brought over from the former location.
What Has Always Been There
One comment during our conversation surprised me more than anything else.
“Actually, school uniforms have always been the foundation of our business.”
For me, Hirama had always been associated with ballroom dancing.
For Mr. Hirama, however, school uniforms were the starting point.
Since the Taisho era, Hirama Co., Ltd. has maintained close ties with local schools.
In the past, preparing for school meant visiting several different shops.
Uniforms from a uniform store.
Shoes from a shoe store.
Bags from a bag store.
Gym clothes from a sportswear shop.
As more local specialty stores gradually disappeared, customers began asking:
“Could you provide these items as well?”
By responding to those requests one by one, Hirama gradually became a place where families could prepare for school in a single visit.
It is a role that developed naturally over many years.
The phrase “a coordinator for school enrollment preparations” seems especially fitting.
▲ A miniature mannequin displaying a former uniform from Koto City’s Third Kameido Junior High School.
▲ I was surprised by the size of today’s junior high school backpacks. They are much larger than I expected.
▲ School supplies, including indoor shoes and gym clothes for various local schools, line the shelves.
What School Uniforms Can Teach Us
Choosing the right size is one of the biggest concerns for parents preparing their children for school.
“They’re still growing, so bigger is probably better.”
It is a natural way of thinking.
But Mr. Hirama does not recommend uniforms that are unnecessarily large.
“Sometimes they end up looking baggy for all three years.”
He explained that girls, in particular, may not grow dramatically after entering junior high school. Many uniforms can also be adjusted as children grow.
Mr. Hirama has been involved with the shop since he was a junior high school student himself, nearly fifty years ago.
How many children has he watched grow during that time?
That is why his advice feels less like salesmanship and more like guidance supported by decades of experience.
School uniforms are also changing.
Beginning next academic year, some schools in the Kameido area are expected to transition from traditional gakuran jackets and sailor-style uniforms to blazers.
Uniforms change with the times, just as communities do.
Having worked with school uniforms for so long, Hirama continues to witness those changes firsthand.
▲ Mr. Hirama photographed in front of the shop.
The Dance Studio Is Still Here
Although dancewear sales have ended, Hirama’s connection with dance remains.
Hirama Studio continues to operate as a rental studio.
It is used for ballroom dancing, ballet, hula, yoga, stretching, and more.
Its users range from elementary school students to people in their eighties.
On the day of our visit, bookings filled the schedule from afternoon through the evening.
“There are a lot of people looking for places to practice.”
There are instructors who want to teach.
But there are not always enough spaces available.
For many people, Hirama Studio fills that need.
The rental fee is 2,000 yen per hour.
When I remarked that it seemed inexpensive, Mr. Hirama replied:
“I’m not trying to make a huge profit. If people can make good use of it, I want them to.”
Then he added with a smile:
“The entrance is a little hard to find.”
I found myself laughing as I imagined first-time visitors looking around trying to figure out where to enter.
A considerate attitude toward users and a slightly hard-to-find entrance.
Somehow, both feel included in that 2,000 yen hourly fee.
▲ Hirama Studio remains at its longtime address (1-31-8 Kameido, Koto City).
▲ Hirama Studio continues to welcome a variety of lessons in its spacious rental studio.
▲ Even on the day of our visit, reservations filled the schedule from afternoon until evening.
▲ Hirama Studio viewed from the street (2F). The entrance is located at the rear of the building.
▲ Visitors enter the studio by walking alongside Hirama Co., Ltd. First-time guests may find the entrance a little difficult to spot.
Dancing and Connecting People
Mr. Hirama says he dances less than he used to, but his passion for ballroom dancing remains unchanged.
“Once you get hooked on dancing, you really get hooked.”
Learning takes time.
It takes money.
And yet, people still want to keep dancing.
As I listened to him speak, I began to feel that the appeal of dancing extends beyond dancing itself.
“It naturally brings people together.”
You learn to match your partner’s rhythm.
You move together.
Because ballroom dancing requires people to coordinate so closely, the distance between people naturally begins to shrink, and friendships are formed along the way.
One story that stayed with me was how many people continued dancing even during the COVID-19 pandemic, practicing while wearing masks rather than giving up something they loved.
To have something in life that makes you want to keep going, even through difficulties, is a wonderful thing.
Having something you can become so passionate about is, in some ways, a little enviable.
Looking Toward the Next 100 Years
Mr. Hirama has devoted nearly fifty years of his life to this business.
During that time, Kameido has changed dramatically.
Long-established shops have disappeared.
New businesses have appeared.
The streetscape continues to evolve.
And yet, some scenes remain unchanged.
“I bought things here when I was a child.”
Today, former customers return as parents, bringing their own children through the same doors.
From parent to child.
And then to the next generation.
It is a scene that can only happen when a business remains deeply rooted in its community.
When asked about the future, Mr. Hirama explained that the school uniform business is not something he can simply walk away from.
There are schools that rely on the shop.
There are children who rely on the service.
When the time comes for him to step aside, he hopes to find someone who can continue that responsibility.
“Otherwise, the schools would be in trouble.”
Before leaving, I asked one final question.
“What makes Hirama what it is?”
After a brief pause, he answered simply:
“We strive to provide service that earns people’s trust.”
The products may change.
The services may change.
But the commitment to people remains the same.
Perhaps that is the true reason Hirama has continued for nearly a century.
▲ Hirama Co., Ltd., continuing its journey alongside the local community.
After the Interview
I visited Hirama expecting to hear about school uniforms.
Before I knew it, we were talking about dance, life, and the town of Kameido.
Mr. Hirama’s stories always seem to have a continuation.
Ask one question, and another door opens.
Among all the topics we discussed, ballroom dancing unexpectedly became one of the liveliest.
When I mentioned a few movies, manga, and anime that I enjoy, the conversation became much more animated than I had expected. Before long, Mr. Hirama was encouraging me to try ballroom dancing myself.
“I really do want to try it someday,” I replied.
When I said that, something unexpected happened that made the world of ballroom dancing feel much closer than before.
By the time the interview ended, ballroom dancing felt far more familiar than it ever had.
You never know what might become a turning point in life.
I came to learn about school uniforms, but what stayed with me most was the weight of running a business in the same community for generations, and Mr. Hirama’s determination to enjoy the years ahead while continuing to value every connection he has made along the way.
As Hirama Co., Ltd. approaches its 100th year, it will no doubt continue supporting local children as they begin their school lives while remaining a place where people gather and new connections are made.
And perhaps one day, I’ll take to the floor at Hirama Studio myself.
▲ Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Hirama, for such a wonderful conversation and a memorable interview.
※Information is based on August 2026. Prices, operating hours, and other details may change. Please verify with the class directly.
※All amounts mentioned in the article are inclusive of taxes.
