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Fri 07/25 20:36 comments (46)
日本語/Japanese  Sun 02/03 03:43 JST
Could School Mizugi combined with shotguns be the latest craze to sweep the otakusphere?

This blue swimming suit is known as "School Mizugi" [スクール水着] and is commonly abbreviated as SukuMizu [スク水]. Basically means "School Swim Wear."
Its worn as part of physical education by girls (and some boys after hours) from primary to high school. The SukuMizu can be seen throughout the otaku subculture in manga, anime and eroge.
I'm not sure why there is a fixation on the SukuMizu in the otaku subculture - but rethinking a bit, I realize there is a fixation on anything worn by a girl ^^;

I remember swimming in physical education classes back in the UK. Pools were mixed but didn't remember seeing the girls wearing something this cute.

Is swimming part of physical education in your region? Did you get to mingle in swim wear with the opposite sex?

Get some pics of 2D girls wearing SukuMizu at Moe Imouto. Pic taken sometime last week in Akiba.
School Mizugi (click to enlarge)
Polls
Mr.Boy in Graceland
Simulation
Registered on 2006/12/31 20:26
Some schools here in the US have a "swim team" but it is not mandatory. Most schools can't afford the pool! 
(ID #71330) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:15
Panther in Urban Hell (Singapore)
Deathseeker
Registered on 2007/12/24 09:20
What is with the shotgun, girls in school swimsuits going to shoot every male that tries to get near them? That is a lot of collateral damage. -_-
(ID #71331) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:16
Rin in Canada
Student Otaku
Registered on 2008/01/04 16:17
Swimming here in Canada are not part of the physical education course. There isn't even mix gym courses in High school. 
(ID #71332) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:17
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Well, I can't answer the poll since I'm not a local... and that I didn't really care about the education system here (except for the Uni where I am right now).
Back in France, swimming is indeed a part of the PE course and it is genre-mixed as well.
It was very nice to see cute girls in swimsuits back then. 
Why are female school swimsuits popular? Hmmm... Let me think... Cling to body, including b-chiku? ^^;;;

As for the swimsuit with shotgun, I prefer the Mikuru bunny suit with AK-47. And no, it's not for me to wear!! XD 
(ID #71333) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:22
howie huang in Toronto, Ontario
Student
Registered on 2007/07/22 02:27
I'm in Canada and swimming WAS part of my high-school's PhyEd curriculum......
(ID #71334) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:23
gregory_gdp in Boise, ID
Photographer
Registered on 2007/07/16 21:56
While I never had a swim team at schools some of the schools where I live now do and since I work at a hotel we often have schools staying at the hotel for swim meets and I have to tell you I've never seen any of the girls wearing single pieces.  They may for thier competitions but when they're in the hotel pool it's all bikinis all the time.  Which makes it hard not to look and watch.
(ID #71335) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:28
lostandfound in a UFO... catcher...
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10
The secondary one students here have to go for swimming lessons but the swimming costumes aren't that cute...
(ID #71336) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:34
iheartassassinmaids in Closed Space
Writer/Academic/Code Monkey
Registered on 2007/01/03 12:07
Back when I was in high school they would make every single student do 2 laps of the pool (on the very first day).  If you couldn't, you had to go take swimming lessons.

The only good thing was that occasionally the local girls school would borrow our pool to use... interesting times.
(ID #71337) Posted on 2008/02/03 03:41
Neil Duckett in Yoyogi, Tokyo
Software Engineer
Registered on 2007/11/06 13:37
On the rare occasions we hit the pool the girls wore their own uniform ... often bikini's ... boy i wish i had paid more attention back then!
(ID #71338) Posted on 2008/02/03 04:04
don in Minnesota USA
Engineering Student
Registered on 2007/10/23 00:10
We used to swim with girls back in school and they could wear whatever.  I wonder why but it seems that no one really paid as much attention to girls as in anime.  Perhaps I just prefer 2D ^_^
(ID #71339) Posted on 2008/02/03 04:16
mavadotar in Peterborough/Ottawa, Canada
Game Development Student
Registered on 2007/12/11 19:26
None of the high schools in my area had pools when I was growing up. Still don't as far as I know. And D_Blade, do you mean gender-mixed? Not that genre mixing isn't cool, but it seems somewhat unlikely (gives me the oddest thought of maids and ninjas and giant mecha in a swimming class together)
(ID #71340) Posted on 2008/02/03 04:50
nuphanton in Los Angeles, CA
student
Registered on 2008/01/29 14:33
the shotgun seems kind of random O.o

well...I live in LA, so swimming isn't a requirement here. Unless you're in a team, in which they would make you buy swimming suits on school colors.
(ID #71342) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:01
skankywonders in California
Student
Registered on 2007/08/09 05:36
Some schools in America have some sort of Swimming Team but nothing of a class requirement. 

(ID #71343) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:07
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
mavadotar, you got that right... My mind is a bit blurry those past days. ^^;
(ID #71344) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:08
Edward in Michigan U.S.A.
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Registered on 2006/12/24 12:02
Not all school districts where wealthy enough to have pools when I was in school.  Hmm...the girls usually wore one piece where I went.  Anyway, swimming wasn't required. 
(ID #71345) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:12
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
Swimming was required in my school but the school didn't have any pool, so we had to use the public pool.. which was bad since public pools here can be quite dirty.. >_
(ID #71347) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:36
まっすぐGO! in Melbourne, Australia
Registered on 2007/11/19 18:46
Of course, I went to an all boys school -_-
But in primary school I didn't really notice girls yet.
(ID #71348) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:42
DRAGUN in Arizona, USA
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
I grew up in Canada, so I had to learn how to swim. Also, when I moved here, I realized more people have pools in Arizona (a desert), than in Canada. Interesting.
(ID #71350) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:47
NPC in Rocklin, CA
Student
Registered on 2007/12/06 15:31
Yep, I had to take it as well. Unfortunately I had swimming first period of the day and this was during the winter. It was so cold... so strenuous... even if the pool was somewhat heated - it just wasn't enough. 
(ID #71351) Posted on 2008/02/03 05:53
Coco the Bean in SoCal, USA
Student
Registered on 2008/01/06 05:41
Everyone at my school has to pass a swimming test, but you could really just thrash around and still pass.
(ID #71352) Posted on 2008/02/03 06:03
Elozt E. Elric in Singapore
Pre-Enlisted NS(Army)-men
Registered on 2007/08/12 19:44
I don't recall swimming classes (As a matter of fact, I never knew how to swim until recently) being a compulsory part in singapore's physical educational system, all I do recall was all the ball games that we have in our secondary and primary schools.
(ID #71354) Posted on 2008/02/03 06:28
Registered on 2008/01/21 06:14
I actually do not think they could be considered as "cute." From first look its probably as conservative as it can get. The major admiration for these are most likely came from the associations with all them various kind of games/gals.
(ID #71355) Posted on 2008/02/03 06:36
Atashi in USA
Biomed student
Registered on 2008/02/02 15:54
I own a school mizugi and GOD is that the tightest thing ever! I wonder if I just ordered something a size too small (the tag said that it should fit me) or school mizugi is supposed to be that restrictive. Anyways, it's an ugly, ugly piece of swimwear. It won't get much use out of me since I can't even swim for more than 10 minutes.
(ID #71356) Posted on 2008/02/03 06:58
Setsuna-san in Selangor, Malaysia
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
Registered on 2007/07/06 10:07
As far as I know, swimming is not part of physical education in Malaysia. 

I guess the schools are afraid of indecent exposure caused by swimwear.( I am not joking, the government here takes things way tooo seriously) That and the general cost of mantaining a swimming pool deters the teaching of swimming.(i think)

As for swimming classes I took lessons from my old man who used to swim in rivers back in the day.(when they were not tainted by pollution)
(ID #71359) Posted on 2008/02/03 08:04
andra in Singapore
Secondary Student~
Registered on 2007/11/06 14:19
The schools just started such system 2 years ago =.=" I was part of the innocent victim during my sec one days.
(ID #71360) Posted on 2008/02/03 08:37
Hangmen13 in Sabah, Malaysia
Aimless Traveler
Registered on 2007/04/21 21:19
Nope, because moralfags in my country are a bunch of impotent, anal retentive 40-50 year olds who think only their opinion matters. Heck, search their closet and you might find a whole stack of hypocrisy hidden inside.
(ID #71361) Posted on 2008/02/03 09:09
Akiba-Kid in California, USA
Online Shop
Registered on 2008/01/17 11:35
Unfortunately, I did not have a luxury having swimming as part of my P.E. class -_-  But being in USA, I don't think they would have SukuMizu looking swimwear for girls even if we had swimming class.  
(ID #71362) Posted on 2008/02/03 09:18
necrophadian in a van down by the river
Stigmata Martyr
Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13
nice combo...sukumizu and shotgun....whats missing in this picture is a feather boa, a cowboy hat, stilettos and a lovely bishoujo (can be loli too) to fill in blanks. 
(ID #71363) Posted on 2008/02/03 09:22
gordon in 新加坡 Singapore
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
Registered on 2007/06/11 14:57
with increasing amount of swimming related deaths in singapore, the government is making swimming a compulsory curriculum. but not all schools have swimming pools though.

btw, the shotgun and swimsuit looks like a weird combination. unless i'm getting old, shotguns aren't waterproof right? ('~')
(ID #71366) Posted on 2008/02/03 10:35
CrazyAnimeTuga in Portugal
Student
Registered on 2007/01/03 02:12
There are no swimming classes in our P.E class, mostly because the schools don't have enough money to build them and it's not really required.
(ID #71367) Posted on 2008/02/03 10:41
JockeII in Sweden
NEET
Registered on 2008/01/19 23:21
In Sweden swimming classes in school are compulsory. It is not like we have it for learning to swim, you are pretty much expected to know that when you start with them. And if you don't, you get to learn in the lowest grades.

Anyways, we had it like three weeks in a row every year in gymnastics. Mixed of course, rather retarded to consider it indecent tbh. I am glad that I live in Sweden sometimes.
(ID #71368) Posted on 2008/02/03 10:51
Registered on 2008/01/21 04:25
They already have the likes of meido or gothloli + artillery, so perhaps sukumizu is the next big thing... Heck, some studio might even pick that idea up one day.

Oh, and I've always ditched swimming lessons during my school days. I prefer not to swim with classmates.  ^^ 
(ID #71369) Posted on 2008/02/03 11:17
Alfisti in Brisbane, Australia
Wannabe Designer
Registered on 2008/01/08 19:07
You pretty much have to be living under a rock if you can't swim by highschool over here.  Second day at our school was a swimming carnival, the results of which I think they used to split you up into houses, and yes it was a compulsory part of PE, mixed classes (you just went in your home-room class).  Blokes got boardies and girls got a racing suit (which they often wore boardies over the top of).  I actually kinda enjoyed it, kinda fun messing 'round in the water for an hour or so, but then again I was always a pretty strong swimmer.

Then someone dyed the pool purple on our last day, which was also kinda fun 'cause anyone who got in came out purple as well :P
(ID #71371) Posted on 2008/02/03 12:24
Nightshade in Planet Earth, Sol System, Alpha Sector
3D Animation Instructor
Registered on 2007/10/15 18:27
Swimming isn't required here in the Philippines, however some colleges have pools, which I believe is more for the swim teams.  I believe you have a choice whether to take it as PE or not.  I remember we could choose what to do in our PE classes.  In "single or doubles" PE we could choose between Judo and Badminton for example.  I wanted Judo since I was the biggest in my class and figured few people could throw me but got locked out and got Badminton instead, which turned out to be fun.

Personally I prefer seeing girls in conservative swimsuits like the school mizugis over thongs and bikinis.  Leaves a bit more to the imagination ^_^

(ID #71372) Posted on 2008/02/03 12:26
Katsuyoshi in Poland
Perv
Registered on 2007/11/11 03:20
Well, it somekind is. At Poland we have swimming classes through primary school, but later on, in middle school and college, you have to go to a special one, that has it in it's programm, I think :S
(ID #71373) Posted on 2008/02/03 12:48
Tami in Germany - Cologne
WebDesign, Coding, Administration
Registered on 2007/12/16 10:42
In germany we have mixed pools, but girls are asked to bring body swimsuits, bikini stuff aint allowed for real. I had some body swimsuit with cats on it in elementary school, we only went swimming in the 4th grade though. (The teacher here was a midaged, overweigthed women which did look totaly bad, poor one.) Then i think around the 9th it started that the other girls did bring bikinis since the teacher didn't mind. (The teacher in midschool-highschool were always men.)

Though it can varry depending on the teacher... ergs *cough* ... now i have to think bout Azumanga Daioh. :(
(ID #71374) Posted on 2008/02/03 13:19
Boris in USA
Interactive Media Design and Graphic Design
Registered on 2006/12/26 00:12
ah i remember this swim suites from anime hehe ^^. In Belarus there are no swimming classes as part of PE too expensive plus everyone who wanted to learn how to swim went to separate classes in large pools. We did sometime had field trips to a lake, river, or ocean (fake ocean that was man made lol) there girls wore 2 peace bikinis. Here in USA we did not have swim class in high school either. I don't know about middle school since i only went to high school here in usa.
(ID #71376) Posted on 2008/02/03 15:20
radical anime fan in Urban Jungle Singapore; no vines, and not even overhead cables either. Only train tracks.
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
"Its worn as part of physical education by girls (and some boys after hours) from primary to high school."

O_O what do you mean, after hours???

I'd wished MY school included swimming while i could still go at it instead of stopping for 4 years... 
(ID #71377) Posted on 2008/02/03 15:39
OMNI Strike in Glasgow, UK
In my last year of High School
Registered on 2006/12/25 02:24
swimming is optional in high school but in primary school it used to compulsory. However when I was in primary school they stopped and so I havent really learned how to swim and Im almost 18. Should put that on a to do list......
(ID #71382) Posted on 2008/02/03 18:01
BeLe in Davao, Philippines
.NET/Web Developer
Registered on 2007/01/03 16:36
P.E. around here are mostly limited to ball games.  And they don't even mix girls with the boys during play time. T_T  Some schools do have official swim teams though but that's considered as an extra curricular activity. :D  
(ID #71383) Posted on 2008/02/03 18:41
XSportSeeker in Brazil
Hikikomori
Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30
In Brazil swimming can be part of extra classes, but only for students that spend full period on schools.

Kinda rare. I'd like to have had it though... I'm having swimming classes, cured me from back pains and other stuff.

About guns + Mizugi you know... less armor = invencibility!
(ID #71385) Posted on 2008/02/03 19:28
Hachiroku in Finland
New media student
Registered on 2007/12/27 18:30
Here in Finland, in that school I went, we used to go swimming sometimes, but it was far more common that we played football or did something else. But I didn't like swimming, so went just a couple of times when I was young, but later didn't take part in swimming lessons anymore. Sometimes girls went to swim at the same place at the same time, but I don't really remember that boys would've been interested in them. I think we were just too young. 
(ID #71389) Posted on 2008/02/03 22:10
-XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
Student Engineer
Registered on 2007/01/01 14:12
In this area, yes I believe swimming is still part of the middle school phys ed cirriculum in the Schuylkill Valley school district (closest). I had to swim many moons ago in middle school and hated the basic exercises- but when they dished out water polo and kyaking I had a blast. Got over the embarassment pretty quickly and it was a lot of fun. Getting an F for attempting a physical backflip on a diving board is not. Cannonballs were fun!!!
(ID #71405) Posted on 2008/02/04 04:49
thefrikking in Spain
Imperial Guard
Registered on 2007/08/18 06:30
The only things we do in Spain on F.E. class is run and play football, no interesting activities like swim and compare sizes... :)

I say it again , Japan is PARADISEEEEE
(ID #71457) Posted on 2008/02/04 19:47
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
i had swimming class in junior high and high school, unfortunately it wasn't mixed. some of the guys wanted to show off their six packs to the girls...lol.  anyway, i remember we pushed our super hot swimming instructor into the pool on the last day of classes when she was wearing a white top, only to find that she was wearing a sports bra underneath >_< on the subject of school mizugis, i have to admit that i'm somewhat of a fan...onepiece swimsuits ftw
(ID #71464) Posted on 2008/02/04 21:10
Izam215 in Putrajaya, Malaysia
Govt. Officer
Registered on 2007/09/12 14:28
we dont have swimming for P.E. here at public schools...maybe some private schools have..but 1 thing for sure,they'll definitely separate the boys from the girls..maybe by scheduling different days for swimming class or different period..
(ID #71470) Posted on 2008/02/05 00:55
zie in Arlington,VA USA
freelance
Registered on 2007/01/09 14:51
Wow japan has some nice bathing suits for the ladies. In my school we had to bring our own swim suits. Still it was cool. Yet i would like if the girls would have those japanes school swim suits! 
(ID #71471) Posted on 2008/02/05 01:38
O.i.D in Spain
Computer repairs
Registered on 2007/09/16 11:02
Hmmm, never seen any schools doing swimming here in Spain. I wonder what it would be like if everyone could wear what they wished. xD I'd know a few that would rather wear something to show of and get yelled at by the teachers than be functional xD

I must say the swimsuit looks nice although plain.

I wont ask where the shotgun came from tho...
(ID #71557) Posted on 2008/02/05 23:09
Nephrite in USA
Demonik Ninja Musician
Registered on 2008/01/19 19:58
this is the cutest/hottest thing a hot chick could wear in a swimming pool short of lookin like a slut....

it should be mandatory that all schools ..ALL over the globe should have the cute girls wearin' this!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
(ID #71733) Posted on 2008/02/08 06:16
adan in Fiber Optic, Indonesia
Web Designer
Registered on 2007/06/11 14:22
Yeah there is Swimming Class in my school, but boys and girls schedule are different >.< ... The girls didn't somekind like Mizugi, just theri ordinary swimsuit.
(ID #71789) Posted on 2008/02/08 15:36
C.C.G. Andrew in Malaysia
Student
Registered on 2007/10/18 19:33
Swimming is not a part of PE Education in Malaysian schools because of indecency concerns. I'm glad though, because I have a fear of getting immersed in water, haha.
Anyway, some schools do have swimming clubs though, and interested students can join them. They usually use public swimming pools for practice.
(ID #172421) Posted on 2008/04/19 14:33
Mimi in Under glass ceiling
I'm a professional eggroll charmer
Registered on 2008/03/11 07:19
My middle school had a swimming pool.. i'd swim all the time there. It's co-ed and really fun when people get competitive. 
(ID #192908) Posted on 2008/05/21 13:04
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