Tokyo urges men to wear shorts to work, but women say it's 'leg hair harassment'
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is encouraging men to wear shorts to work to combat extreme summer heat. The policy has sparked debate, with some women criticizing the move as 'leg hair harassment' and expressing discomfort with the casual dress code.
Why it matters
This highlights the intersection of climate-driven workplace policy changes and traditional cultural expectations regarding professional attire and gender norms.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kurumi Mori , Tokyo correspondent and Chie Kobayashi Getty Images As temperatures rise this summer, Japanese men are baring more leg at work than ever before.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is pushing company employees to ditch their usual suit and tie for more casual attire, featuring t-shirts, trainers - and shorts.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike introduced "Tokyo Cool Biz" in April, hoping to expand on her signature cool down initiative which has now become a widely recognised annual summer tradition.
Almost four months in, the newly allowed shorts in the office policy is getting mixed reviews.
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