Tokyo expands office dress code to allow shorts, sparking mixed reactions

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has encouraged employees to wear shorts at work this summer to cope with record heat, Tokyo environmental official Noboru Watanabe said, with the move prompting both approval for comfort and concerns over fairness and appearance.

Governor Yuriko Koike introduced the expanded “Tokyo Cool Biz” recommendation in April, building on an annual summer campaign that relaxes traditional suit-and-tie expectations. The policy aims to give workers more clothing options during the severe heat while emphasizing that attire should not be offensive to others, Watanabe told the BBC.

A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found 46.5% of respondents supported wearing shorts to work, while 53.5% opposed it. The clinic reported that concerns about body shape and body hair were the main reasons for resistance across genders, and that the survey had significantly more female respondents.

Some commentators welcomed the relaxed dress guidelines for making workplaces more comfortable, while other voices criticized the policy as unequal because women remain expected to wear tights if their legs are exposed. Several women described discomfort at seeing male colleagues’ leg hair, a phenomenon discussed online as “sunehara” or “leg hair harassment.”

Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, said he has seen more clients seeking laser hair removal for social reasons linked to wearing shorts, noting that some women expect men to have less leg hair to avoid causing discomfort.

Japan has faced record-high temperatures this summer alongside rising energy prices. The Japan Meteorological Agency has highlighted days exceeding 40C, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported seven heat-related deaths and 4,580 hospital admissions for the week of 6-12 July.

To combat heat, residents have turned to cooling products such as clothes with built-in fans, disposable wet towels, UV and heat-blocking umbrellas, and portable handheld fans. Experts from the Japan Academic Network for Disaster Reduction emphasized the need for heat acclimatisation, noting it takes weeks for the body to adapt and that Japan’s high humidity reduces sweat evaporation.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The Tokyo recommendation to allow shorts has increased social acceptance of casual office attire and prompted practical responses such as greater demand for cosmetic hair removal, while public concern centers on perceived gendered expectations and personal comfort in shared workplaces.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Tokyo recommended allowing shorts at work in April under the expanded “Tokyo Cool Biz” initiative.
• Survey by Gorilla Clinic found 46.5% support and 53.5% opposition to wearing shorts at work.
• Officials emphasize comfort and non-offensive attire while reports note concerns about gender fairness and leg hair.