The sweat shirts and coats look like plain waterproofs but are made from the same fibers used in police and military knife-proof and bulletproof vests, according to the maker, Madre.

"We developed this product so children would be safe, even if they went off to play by themselves," said a spokesman for Madre, a provider of child day-care services before it added protective clothing to its portfolio earlier this year.

The clothing, sold only through the company's Web site -- www.defense.to -- isn't cheap, at ¥46,095 for the coat and from ¥40,950 for the sweat shirt. They come in 12 colors and can be embroidered with initials or other slogans.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 31, 2004
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