TOKYO - Female footballers in Japan are driving changes to kits long treated as one-size-fits-all, pushing teams and manufacturers to address concerns over transparency, menstruation and fit.
As breathability and lightness have become priorities for athletes regardless of gender, some teams and manufacturers are rethinking designs that for years differed little from those worn by men.
New kits feature less transparent fabrics, cuts tailored to women's body shapes and darker colors aimed at helping players feel more comfortable during menstruation.
At Fujieda Junshin High School in Shizuoka Prefecture, a powerhouse in girls' football, concerns about transparency and menstruation prompted changes to the team's kits.
The issue emerged after white practice kits were replaced with a lighter, quick-drying material. Players felt the new fabric was more transparent, prompting coach Kakeru Nakamura, 37, to discuss the matter with team members and seek their opinions.
The school changed its practice strips to navy blue the previous year. It later revamped its second kit in 2025, replacing white shorts with navy blue ones featuring a pink line at the hem.
Players welcomed the changes, saying the new design "looks cool" and allows them to play without worrying about menstruation.
"I hope this will allow women to fully enjoy and excel in sports," Nakamura said.
The issue has also reached the highest levels of the sport.
The Japan women's national team, Nadeshiko Japan, wears dark-colored shorts such as black or blue whenever possible.
The change came after social media users pointed out that the team's white uniforms at the 2024 Paris Olympics were see-through.
A representative of the Japan Football Association said creating an environment in which players can concentrate on their game is important.
Similar changes are taking place elsewhere in the women's game.
B's International, a Tokyo-based company that operates apparel brands including X-girl, is producing women-specific kits for clubs in Japan's professional women's football league, the WE League.
According to Yuya Tomita, who oversees the project, surveys of WE League players found concerns that differed from those typically raised by men.
Tomita said male players tended to prioritize lightness and fit, while female players more often raised concerns about transparency and sun exposure.
After developing numerous prototypes, the company created a fabric from scratch designed to be less transparent while also providing UV protection. A fine mesh lining helps maintain breathability.
The company also modified the design to better suit women's body shapes, including a neckline that covers the chest area and a longer overall length.
Seven clubs have adopted the uniforms.
"The players are the main focus. We are always thinking about how to meet their needs," Tomita said.
Kit colors are also drawing increased attention.
In football, many teams traditionally choose white for their second kit because it makes it easier to distinguish players from opponents. But white shorts can create additional concerns during menstruation because menstrual blood leakage is more visible.
For advocates of gender equality in sports, the changes reflect a broader effort to question long-standing assumptions.
"It is important to recognize that things we have accepted as 'just the way things are' may in fact be wrong, and to move toward change," said Naoko Imoto, former Olympic swimmer and executive director of nonprofit SDGs in Sports.
Imoto said unconscious gender inequality still exists in the sports world and stressed the importance of creating an environment in which athletes and other stakeholders can easily speak out.
