What do people get wrong about drawstrings on children's clothes?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Hood cords catching on playground equipment have caused accidents in many countries. Japan adopted a safety standard for cords on children's clothing (a JIS, Japanese Industrial Standard) in 2015. This article sets out what it says and how it compares with the standards you may know from home.
What the standard says (JIS L4129, adopted December 2015)
| Part of the garment | Rule (applies to under-13s) |
|---|---|
| Head and neck | No cords (under 7). Ages 7 to under 13: limits on the length of hanging cords and on drawstrings |
| Waist and hem | Hanging cord 14 cm or less; no cord may hang below the hem (must not extend past the bottom edge of the garment) |
| Cuffs | Hanging cord 7 cm or less |
| Back | No cords |
- Background to the standard: a Tokyo Metropolitan Government survey (2006) found that about 80% of parents had experienced an accident or near-miss involving cords on children's clothing, followed by requests from the Consumer Affairs Agency and Tokyo from 2013 onward.
- A JIS is voluntary. Products labelled "JIS L4129 compliant" or similar can be checked for compliance. Imported goods and second-hand clothes may not comply, so checking the cords yourself when you buy is the practical approach.
- Standards abroad: the EU standard (EN 14682) was the model for the Japanese one and is almost identical in content. The US (CPSC) likewise bans neck cords.
[Verify] Confirm the year and month of adoption, the age bands and the year of the Tokyo survey against published material from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Misunderstanding 1｜Neck cords are safe if you tie them
The knot or loop catching on playground equipment, a door or a bus door is the typical accident. Removing the cord is the thinking behind the standard. Pull it out or cut it off is the practical step.
Misunderstanding 2｜Anything sold as children's clothing in Japan meets the standard
A JIS is voluntary, and non-compliant products are on the market. The big makers have largely adopted it, but imports, small brands and second-hand clothes need checking.
Misunderstanding 3｜Once they are at primary school it stops mattering
The standard covers children under 13. Cords catch on playground equipment, bicycles, escalators and train doors whatever the child's size.
Misunderstanding 4｜There are more important things to worry about than cords
Clothing accidents reported to the Consumer Affairs Agency include cords catching, hoods catching, buttons swallowed and ribbons tangling. Cords are the easiest of these to prevent.
Misunderstanding 5｜Children's clothes bought abroad follow the same rules
EU and US products meet equivalent or stricter standards, but there are countries with no standard at all. Judge by looking at cords at the neck and back, and cords hanging below the hem.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Adoption of a JIS on the safety of children's clothing (JIS L4129)" (December 2015) [子ども用衣料の安全性に関するJIS（JIS L4129）の制定について]
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2015/12/20151221002/20151221002.html
- Consumer Affairs Agency, "Beware of accidents involving children's clothing" [子どもの衣類による事故に注意]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/consumer_safety/child/
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "Preventing accidents involving children's clothing" (Council on Product Safety Issues) [子供の衣類に関する事故防止]
https://www.shouhiseikatu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/anzen/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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