Introduction
In many Western countries, leggings have become everyday wear, often worn without additional coverage. However, in Japan, this trend still sparks debate—especially when leggings are worn as pants in public spaces like parks or city streets. Questions of modesty, cultural norms, and safety are frequently raised. In this article, we explore real opinions from Japanese message boards, where users express a wide range of views. Each comment is provided in both Japanese and English.
🗣️ Comment 1
「外国にはいそうだけどね。はっきり言って恥ずかしい。目のやり場に困る。ジムに行ってほしい。犯罪に合わないか本当に心配。」
“I can see that happening overseas, but to be honest, it’s embarrassing. I don’t know where to look. I wish they’d go to the gym instead. I seriously worry about them becoming crime victims.”
🗣️ Comment 2
「周りの人は、嫌でもその格好が視界に入るわけで。選択の余地がない状況なら、スポブラとレギンスの格好はしない方がいいと思います。」
“People around you have no choice but to see what you’re wearing. If there’s no way to avoid it, I don’t think wearing just a sports bra and leggings is a good idea.”
🗣️ Comment 3
「公園っていろんな人がいます。痴漢とそうでない人と区別なんてできないのだから、危機管理能力がないのかなとさえ思います。」
“Parks have all kinds of people. You can’t tell the difference between creeps and normal folks, so I wonder if people wearing that kind of outfit have any sense of self-protection.”
🗣️ Comment 4
「町中で手を繋いで歩くカップルを見て『仲が良い』と思う人もいれば、『邪魔だよね』って思う人もいる。それだけの話。みんなが同じ考えじゃないと知れて良かった。」
“Some people see couples holding hands in the street and think it’s sweet, others find it annoying. That’s all it is. It’s nice to know not everyone thinks the same.”
🗣️ Comment 5
「はい、確かに『好きな格好したいだけ』ってのも限度はある。他人には見たくないものを見ない権利もある。」
“Sure, I get that people want to wear what they like. But there’s a limit. Others have the right not to be forced to see what they don’t want to see.”
🗣️ Comment 6
「私の娘がしていたら『そんな格好やめなさい』と言います。公園でのトレーニングという事ですが、不特定多数の人が集まる公の場所で着る服ではないと思います。」
“If my daughter dressed like that, I’d tell her to stop. Parks are public spaces with all kinds of people. That’s not the kind of outfit you wear there.”
🗣️ Comment 7
「いくら若くても美人でスタイルが良くても、その姿を外で見たくありません。周りに不快感を与えます。おかしな男性に目を付けられる前にやめた方がいいです。」
“No matter how young or beautiful someone is, I don’t want to see that outside. It makes people uncomfortable. They should stop before attracting the wrong kind of attention.”
🗣️ Comment 8
「女性アスリートへの被害が多い、盗撮対策は大丈夫なんですか？透明素材のレギンスだと、風景写真を撮るフリをして狙われる可能性がある。」
“With all the incidents of female athletes being targeted, are they protected against voyeurism? If the leggings are sheer, someone pretending to take landscape shots could easily target them.”
🗣️ Comment 9
「ジムや室内なら全然ありと思いますが、公共の場所ではちょっとナシかな。」
“I think it’s totally fine at the gym or indoors, but maybe not in public spaces.”
🗣️ Comment 10
「脚こそ出てないけどビキニ姿ってことでしょ？腹と背中が皮膚丸出しの。今の時期にそれをわざわざ公園でしてたなら、人目を引きすぎるんじゃない？」
“You’re not showing your legs, but it’s basically a bikini, right? With the stomach and back fully exposed. Doing that in a park during this season draws way too much attention.”
Conclusion
From the comments above, it’s clear that Japanese netizens hold strong views on the topic of leggings worn in public—especially when paired with revealing tops. While some people defend personal freedom and expression, others raise concerns about modesty, safety, and the discomfort it may cause to others. Cultural expectations around TPO—Time, Place, Occasion—remain strong in Japan, especially when it comes to public dress codes. This discussion reflects broader questions of cross-cultural fashion norms and social boundaries.
