School Life (Part 2 of a Series)

Things a Japanese student must own at Kizaki Junior High School:

Athletic shoes. One pair for each year.
Indoor shoes. One pair for each year.
A formal uniform.
A track suit.
A canvas backpack.
An apron.
A head scarf.
A bicycle.
A bicycle helmet.

I know that Japan has an enormous middle class, but the required costs to attend Japanese public school surprise me. Many families only buy one formal uniform to last for the duration of middle school, meaning that first years swim in baggy suits, and third years are close to bursting out of their jackets. Even in elementary school the costs are outrageous. The usual leather backpack can cost hundreds of dollars. I also wonder about the cost of books. Kizaki doesn't use hardback books like I had in middle school. Each student gets a small, floppy book that is theirs to keep and write in.

I wonder what measures are in place to help a family who can't afford the hundreds of dollars needed to set up a proper school life for their child. I asked about it once, but was met with confusion and misunderstanding. Poverty is hidden in Japan. While in Tokyo I never saw a homeless person. Images of affluence are everywhere. I wonder if there is a greater shame and stigma associated with being poor in Japan as compared to being poor in other countries due to Japan's social ideal of group uniformity and efficiency.