Parents of a Tokyo elementary school are up in at being asked to pay $730 for their child's school uniform. A elementary school in Tokyo's Ginza district has decided to adopt new school uniforms designed by the Italian designer Armani. The uniforms, which include a hat and bag, are priced at over ¥80,000 ($730) each. Parents are at the school's decision and are protesting at what they view as the price for a uniform of an eight-year-old child. The school said it wanted a designer uniform that represented the area of Ginza. School officials visited department stores and decided to ask the fashion Armani to design the uniform.
The expensive uniform has created such a that it has been discussed in Japan's . One lawmaker said that since the school is public and not private, "a price range needs to be considered". Finance Minister Taro Aso said: "Clearly it's expensive. It would be tough if a could not to pay for it." Japan's education minister said steps would be taken to ensure the burden placed on parents for uniforms, "would not be ". Twitter users said young children are not interested in designer clothes. The school principal said: "With , I take the criticism that the has been insufficient and not well-timed. I will go on explaining to those concerned."
