As Japan braces for another scorching summer, more male office workers are swapping suits and trousers for shorts as part of a government-backed campaign aimed at helping employees stay cool. But the relaxed dress code has unexpectedly sparked a heated debate over workplace etiquette and even men’s leg hair.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced its updated “Tokyo Cool Biz” campaign in April, encouraging workers to dress more casually during the hot season. Employees are now being urged to replace traditional business attire with T-shirts, trainers and shorts in an effort to stay comfortable while reducing energy consumption.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike expanded the long-running Cool Biz initiative, which was first introduced in 2005 to cut electricity use by reducing reliance on air conditioning. The campaign has since become a familiar feature of Japanese summers, but allowing shorts in the office has divided public opinion.
While many workers have welcomed the move as a practical response to rising temperatures, others argue the policy is unbalanced. Some women have pointed out that they are still expected to wear tights when exposing part of their legs, while a number of female employees have complained online about what has been dubbed “sunehara” or “leg hair harassment” — describing the discomfort of constantly seeing male colleagues’ hairy legs in the workplace.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government environmental official Noboru Watanabe said the aim of the campaign is simply to provide people with more clothing options during periods of extreme heat, not to dictate what employees should wear. He added that work attire should be acceptable as long as it is not offensive to others.
A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found public opinion almost evenly divided, with 53.5 per cent opposing shorts in the workplace and 46.5 per cent supporting the recommendation. The survey also found that concerns over body shape and body hair were among the biggest reasons people opposed the new dress code, with women significantly more likely than men to object.
The growing trend has also led to an increase in men seeking laser hair removal. Gorilla Clinic director Akifumi Funatsu said more male clients are requesting treatment not for cosmetic reasons alone, but because they believe smooth legs are becoming part of modern workplace etiquette when wearing shorts.
Japan has been experiencing unusually high temperatures in recent months, while soaring energy prices linked to instability in the Middle East have renewed efforts to reduce electricity consumption. Weather officials have warned that temperatures could exceed 40°C, describing such conditions as “kokusho-bi”, or “brutally hot days”.
The country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that seven people died from heatstroke and 4,580 people were hospitalised during the week of 6 to 12 July alone. Authorities continue urging residents to stay hydrated, use air conditioning where necessary and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
As temperatures continue to climb, Japanese consumers have also embraced a range of cooling products, including fan-equipped clothing, portable handheld fans, cooling wet towels and UV-blocking umbrellas. Experts are encouraging people to begin adapting to the heat early, warning that high humidity in Japan makes it harder for the body to cool itself and increases the risk of heat-related illnesses.
