<p>кяαzєя♦'s answer, while good in most regards, seems to be missing the convenience aspect. In anime, and possibly in real Japanese schools, these shoe lockers are often not locked, and sometimes are just open shelves as seen in the second image below.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wmzY4m.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wmzY4m.jpg" alt="anime" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h4HqSm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h4HqSm.jpg" alt="real life" /></a></p>
<p><sup>source: <a href="https://gowithguide.com/blog/welcome-to-the-japanese-school-visiting-is-believing-shoe-lockers-3496" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://gowithguide.com/blog/welcome-to-the-japanese-school-visiting-is-believing-shoe-lockers-3496</a></sup></p>
<p>Though I can't speak much to real Japanese schools, in anime, these lockers are almost always not locked, thus making the shoes inside an easy and convenient target for bullies.</p>
<p>See also:</p>
<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/InsideShoes" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/InsideShoes</a></p>
<p><a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StockShoujoBullyingTactics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StockShoujoBullyingTactics</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T15:53:38.240Z
2023-04-27T15:53:38.240Z
Shaymin Gratitude
<p>In Japanese schools, typically they have set of outdoor street shoes and indoor shoes called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwabaki">Uwabaki</a>." Inside, there are typically individual shelves or lockers for everyone's shoes. These shelves/lockers will occasionally have a space for students to put and swap their outdoor shoes for their indoor shoes. This is typically done to keep the floor from being marred by outside elements and maintain its polish for a longer period of time.</p>

<p>The general idea (depicted in anime and manga) of bullying is to either steal them (and toss them away or place them in an inconvenient place) or fill them with tacks or garbage (sometimes also defacing them). The purpose is usually humiliate them and/or cause them distress without actual confrontation. The sandals she wears are probably her indoor shoes, and the idea is probably to take enjoyment in humiliating her by making her walk home without shoes or in her indoor shoes. In essence, the idea of this is to shame the bullied victim (who typically react passively), who loses dignity/"face", which elevates the ego/status of the bully or bullies.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T16:53:07.263Z
2014-01-21T16:53:07.263Z
кяαzєя
<p>In the anime (episode 2) it is shown that Mamimi is bullied, and apparently has her shoes taken away from her. I understand she is probably bullied due to being odd, but why did they take her shoes of all things? it seems bizarre to me.</p>
<p>As seen in the anime itself:</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/TfTCl.png" alt="enter image description here" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ydPVb.png" alt="Bullies" /></p>

<flcl>
Why was Mamimi bullied for her shoes?
# Why was Mamimi bullied for her shoes?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-01-21
In the anime (episode 2) it is shown that Mamimi is bullied, and apparently has her shoes taken away from her. I understand she is probably bullied due to being odd, but why did they take her shoes of all things? it seems bizarre to me.

As seen in the anime itself:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/TfTCl.png)
![Bullies](https://i.sstatic.net/ydPVb.png)
**Tags:** flcl
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## 2 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-21. Score: 8 | Accepted answer
In Japanese schools, typically they have set of outdoor street shoes and indoor shoes called "[Uwabaki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwabaki)." Inside, there are typically individual shelves or lockers for everyone's shoes. These shelves/lockers will occasionally have a space for students to put and swap their outdoor shoes for their indoor shoes. This is typically done to keep the floor from being marred by outside elements and maintain its polish for a longer period of time.

The general idea (depicted in anime and manga) of bullying is to either steal them (and toss them away or place them in an inconvenient place) or fill them with tacks or garbage (sometimes also defacing them). The purpose is usually humiliate them and/or cause them distress without actual confrontation. The sandals she wears are probably her indoor shoes, and the idea is probably to take enjoyment in humiliating her by making her walk home without shoes or in her indoor shoes. In essence, the idea of this is to shame the bullied victim (who typically react passively), who loses dignity/"face", which elevates the ego/status of the bully or bullies.
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### Answer by username_1 on 2023-04-27. Score: 0
кяαzєя♦'s answer, while good in most regards, seems to be missing the convenience aspect. In anime, and possibly in real Japanese schools, these shoe lockers are often not locked, and sometimes are just open shelves as seen in the second image below.

[![anime](https://i.sstatic.net/wmzY4m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wmzY4m.jpg)

[![real life](https://i.sstatic.net/h4HqSm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h4HqSm.jpg)

source: <https://gowithguide.com/blog/welcome-to-the-japanese-school-visiting-is-believing-shoe-lockers-3496>

Though I can't speak much to real Japanese schools, in anime, these lockers are almost always not locked, thus making the shoes inside an easy and convenient target for bullies.

See also:

<https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/InsideShoes>

<https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StockShoujoBullyingTactics>
---
