Tokyo encourages men to wear shorts to work in the summer.

Tokyo has introduced a policy encouraging men to wear short pants at work during the summer months, sparking backlash from some women who say they find the sight of their male colleagues' hairy legs uncomfortable. The initiative, part of a broader campaign called Tokyo Cool Biz, aims to promote lighter clothing in hot weather, with officials hoping it will help reduce energy consumption and improve comfort for workers. However, nearly four months after its introduction, the policy has drawn criticism, particularly from female employees who feel the change undermines traditional expectations of modesty in professional settings. The policy was first announced in April by Governor Yuriko Koike, who launched the Cool Biz campaign to encourage citizens to dress more casually during the summer. The recommendation includes wearing short-sleeved shirts, tennis shoes, and short pants, contrasting sharply with the formal business attire typically required in Japanese workplaces. While the guidelines are not strictly enforced, they have been interpreted as a subtle shift toward more relaxed dress codes, especially in government offices and public institutions. Despite the push for casual dressing, the policy has faced resistance among certain segments of the population. Some women have expressed discomfort with the idea of seeing their male coworkers’ hairy legs, arguing that the new rules place them in an awkward position. On social media, users have even coined a term, sunehara, to describe the unease caused by being forced to look at such body hair. This sentiment reflects a broader cultural tension between modernization and traditional norms, particularly regarding gender roles and workplace decorum. Noboru Watanabe, an environmental protection officer with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, told the BBC that the goal of the policy is to provide greater flexibility for workers during heatwaves, rather than imposing specific dress requirements. He emphasized that the focus should be on ensuring that all individuals feel comfortable, regardless of how they choose to dress. “We don’t want to tell people what to wear,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a problem as long as the work clothes aren’t offensive to anyone.” A survey conducted in June found that 53.5 percent of respondents opposed the idea of men wearing short pants at work during the summer, while 46.5 percent supported the policy. Among those who were uncomfortable with the change, both men and women cited physical appearance as a key concern. Many believe that the visibility of body hair, particularly on men’s legs, creates an unwanted distraction in professional environments. In recent years, there has been a growing trend among Japanese men, especially in tech startups and innovation-driven industries, to adopt more casual styles. However, this summer’s policy has made such choices more socially acceptable, according to Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Laser Clinic, which specializes in laser hair removal. He noted that more clients are coming in not just for cosmetic reasons, but because of the social pressure to conform to the new dress code. “Women believe men should have less body hair,” he explained. “This has led many to seek laser treatments so they don’t offend others around them.” As the debate continues, the situation highlights the complex interplay between personal freedom, cultural norms, and workplace etiquette in Japan. Whether the policy will gain widespread acceptance or remain a point of contention remains to be seen. For now, the issue has sparked a wider conversation about how society defines professionalism, comfort, and respect in shared spaces.