<p>Arm bands in Japan, usually called as <strong>red armband</strong>, is worn as a method of identification of team/group or organization (more on this at the end)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The red armband can have a very different connotation in Japanese
  culture than in that of many other countries. The leader of any group
  might wear a red armband, usually with the characters for the name of
  the organisation written on it, as a symbol of his authority. Due to
  cultural diffusion, the usage of the red armband by leftist political
  groups has spread to Japan as well.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em><a href="http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7431774_red-armband-significance.html" rel="noreferrer">Source</a></em></p>

<p>The link also has information on how it spread to Japan but that's out of the scope so I'm not including it here.</p>

<p>Known bands from the picture:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/heras.jpg" height="200"></p>

<p>1) Haruhi Suzumiya wears a band that reads <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruhi_Suzumiya_(character)#Appearance" rel="noreferrer">Brigade leader</a></p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BcXyI.jpg" height="200"></p>

<p>2) In Ousai (Private Academy featured in Seitokai Yakuindomo) <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/SeitokaiYakuindomo" rel="noreferrer">red armbands</a> signifies power, not
 leadership—students that enforces rules wear them.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a6KdJ.jpg" height="200"></p>

<p>3) In Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, this band signifies the <a href="http://toarumajutsunoindex.wikia.com/wiki/Judgment" rel="noreferrer">Judgement Committee</a></p>

<p>Couldn't find information regarding the fourth.</p>

<p><hr>
Also, personally, in many Japanese Dramas I have seen working people wear such bands like the reporters, journalists, forensics and even the police officers (not red though, it's usually white in black text) so I'm guessing it's a way to tell who's from which organization.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T20:08:33.020Z
While the armband Haruhi is wearing in the question does read "Brigade Leader", the one you've included in your answer reads "Super Director" - it's the one she was wearing when they were filming The Adventures of Mikuru.
senshin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T04:26:00.273Z
@senshin Too bad I don't read Japanese. Thanks for the info. Is the above image correct?
AyB
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T04:51:47.240Z
Yup, that's the "Brigade Leader" armband.
senshin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T13:33:27.920Z
2014-04-24T04:26:32.407Z
2014-04-24T04:26:32.407Z
AyB
<p>In anime, people who in charge sometimes wear armband,</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HO9Xs.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><sup>from left to right: Haruhi Suzumiya - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Club president), Suzu and Tsuda - Seitokai Yakuindomo (student council), Kuroko - Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (Judgement, Disciplinary Committee), Kamado Ueshita - Mirai Nikki (Director of the orphanage).</sup></p>

<p>is this arm band have particular name? what is it purpose and how is this originate? Is this related to Japanese culture? I never see someone wearing this in my country.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T04:01:45.827Z
from what i understand they show they are in a school club/group like a Student Council/Disciplinary Committee, the 3rd one is Kuroko being in JUDGEMENT which is like a Disciplinary Committee except city wide, not sure if it's a culture thing or not though
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T04:03:25.687Z
probably relevant: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RedArmbandOfLeadership
Maroon
<tropes>
What is purpose of these arm band?
# What is purpose of these arm band?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-04-16
In anime, people who in charge sometimes wear armband,

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/HO9Xs.jpg)

from left to right: Haruhi Suzumiya - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Club president), Suzu and Tsuda - Seitokai Yakuindomo (student council), Kuroko - Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (Judgement, Disciplinary Committee), Kamado Ueshita - Mirai Nikki (Director of the orphanage).

is this arm band have particular name? what is it purpose and how is this originate? Is this related to Japanese culture? I never see someone wearing this in my country.
**Tags:** tropes
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: from what i understand they show they are in a school club/group like a Student Council/Disciplinary Committee, the 3rd one is Kuroko being in JUDGEMENT which is like a Disciplinary Committee except city wide, not sure if it's a culture thing or not though  
> **username_2**: probably relevant: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RedArmbandOfLeadership  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-16. Score: 9 | Accepted answer
Arm bands in Japan, usually called as **red armband**, is worn as a method of identification of team/group or organization (more on this at the end)

> The red armband can have a very different connotation in Japanese
> culture than in that of many other countries. The leader of any group
> might wear a red armband, usually with the characters for the name of
> the organisation written on it, as a symbol of his authority. Due to
> cultural diffusion, the usage of the red armband by leftist political
> groups has spread to Japan as well.

*[Source](http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7431774_red-armband-significance.html)*

The link also has information on how it spread to Japan but that's out of the scope so I'm not including it here.

Known bands from the picture:

![](https://i.sstatic.net/heras.jpg)

1) Haruhi Suzumiya wears a band that reads [Brigade leader](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruhi_Suzumiya_(character)#Appearance)

![](https://i.sstatic.net/BcXyI.jpg)

2) In Ousai (Private Academy featured in Seitokai Yakuindomo) [red armbands](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/SeitokaiYakuindomo) signifies power, not
leadership—students that enforces rules wear them.

![](https://i.sstatic.net/a6KdJ.jpg)

3) In Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, this band signifies the [Judgement Committee](http://toarumajutsunoindex.wikia.com/wiki/Judgment)

Couldn't find information regarding the fourth.

---

Also, personally, in many Japanese Dramas I have seen working people wear such bands like the reporters, journalists, forensics and even the police officers (not red though, it's usually white in black text) so I'm guessing it's a way to tell who's from which organization.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2014-04-23): While the armband Haruhi is wearing in the question does read "Brigade Leader", the one you've included in your answer reads "Super Director" - it's the one she was wearing when they were filming The Adventures of Mikuru.  
> **username_3** (2014-04-24): @senshin Too bad I don't read Japanese. Thanks for the info. Is the above image correct?  
> **username_4** (2014-04-24): Yup, that's the "Brigade Leader" armband.  
---
