After the imperial instruction to change the uniforms for the army and bureaucrats into western style uniforms (edict of Dajokan [Grand Council of state] Number 399 'the western clothes shall be used as formal wear') was issued in 1871, the clothes of police officers, railway employees, and teachers were also westernized sequentially.
1871年に陸軍や官僚の制服を西洋風に改めることを定めた天皇の勅諭（太政官布告399号「爾今禮服ニハ洋服ヲ採用ス」）が発せられた以後、警官・鉄道員・教員などが順次服装を西洋化することになる。