Tokyo urges men to wear shorts to work, but women say it's 'leg hair harassment'
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has encouraged men to wear shorts to work to combat summer heat, but the policy has sparked debate over workplace etiquette and gender-based double standards. Many women have expressed discomfort with the sight of male leg hair, leading to the coining of the term 'sunehara'.
Why it matters
This highlights the intersection of climate-driven policy changes and traditional cultural norms regarding professional appearance in Japan.
Image source, Getty Images By Kurumi Mori Tokyo correspondent Published 19 minutes ago 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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