"Please, Middle-Aged Men, It's Unpleasant to Look At"... Japan Debates Over Allowing Civil Servants to Wear Shorts to Work

Tokyo Allows Shorts and Sneakers for Civil Servants Amid Record Heat and Energy Crisis
Debate Grows Over Workplace Discomfort and Gender Equity

As record-breaking heat waves and soaring air conditioning bills grip Japan, Tokyo's metropolitan government has significantly relaxed its dress code for office workers, triggering an unforeseen debate. The bold decision to allow shorts at work has produced positive outcomes for work efficiency and energy conservation, but has also sparked controversy over workplace discomfort and the fairness of dress standards between genders. In particular, discomfort over exposed leg hair has become a new buzzword phenomenon, further amplifying the debate.

Tokyo metropolitan government officials wearing shorts. Photo by AFP News Agency

Heatwave Response Card 'Tokyo Cool Biz'... Dress Code Significantly Eased

According to international media outlets such as the BBC and The New York Times on July 22, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has broadly expanded autonomy in workplace dress codes this summer through the "Tokyo Cool Biz" policy. The new rules go well beyond previously relaxed requirements for jackets and neckties, now permitting not only T-shirts, sneakers, and jeans but also shorts. This is an expanded version of the "Cool Biz" policy introduced by Yuriko Koike, the current Tokyo Governor, during her tenure as Environment Minister in 2005, aiming to reduce energy consumption by cutting back on air conditioning use.

In reality, Japan has recently been experiencing heat waves with temperatures soaring between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. According to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 4,580 people were hospitalized for heatstroke during the week between July 6 and July 12, with seven reported fatalities. Noboru Watanabe, a representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Environment, stated, "It is designed to give employees more options in these harsh temperatures," adding, "As long as the attire does not make others uncomfortable, dress should be free."

"Comfortable Work Environment" vs "Unpleasant to See"

There is no shortage of positive feedback on the ground, with some public officials saying that "the perceived temperature during the commute is noticeably lower, and the work environment has become much more comfortable." However, opposition is significant as well. Some employees responded by saying, "It doesn't look clean," or expressed discomfort at "having to constantly see a colleague's bare legs."

Related reference photo. Getty Images Bank

Online, a new term "sune-hara" has even emerged. It is a combination of the Japanese word "sune" (meaning 'shin') and "harassment," referring to what is called "leg hair harassment."

One local internet user commented under a related article, "Middle-aged men, please do not wear shorts. It makes me uncomfortable. Please do not expose your shins. I don’t want to see them." The commenter reiterated, "Please dress in a way that does not make me feel uncomfortable; it’s unpleasant."

"What About Women?"... Gender Equity Controversy Emerges

The debate over dress code flexibility has expanded into gender issues as well. Legally, both men and women are allowed to wear shorts, but critics note that workplace culture often still implicitly expects women to wear stockings or long skirts.

A survey by laser hair removal provider Gorilla Clinic found that 53.5% of all respondents opposed wearing shorts, with women expressing higher opposition. The main reasons cited were anxiety about body exposure and concerns about hair maintenance.

A Tokyo metropolitan government official wearing shorts. Photo captured from TOKYO MX News Bureau broadcast footage.

Professor Atsuko Tamada of Japan Housewives' University noted, "Women already face significant social pressure to invest time and money in their appearance," adding, "If men are encouraged to wear shorts, similar standards for personal grooming should be required of them as well."

Gap Between Policy and Perception

This experiment by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is seen as a meaningful attempt to tackle both the climate crisis and improve working conditions. However, even several months after the policy's introduction, the actual proportion of employees wearing shorts remains quite limited. The New York Times reported that, in the Tokyo metropolitan government office, only 11 out of 70 male employees wore shorts.

This demonstrates that institutional change does not immediately translate into cultural change. Experts point out that dress code flexibility cannot be achieved by institutional measures alone; changes in organizational culture and broader social attitudes must follow as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.