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Tokyo rolls out shorts for office workers amid mixed reactions
The policy, introduced under the Tokyo Cool Biz push, aims to give staff more options in severe summer heat, while some critics cite unequal expectations for women.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has urged companies to allow more casual summer officewear, including t-shirts, trainers, and shorts, replacing the usual suit and tie as temperatures rise. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike launched the initiative in April as an extension of the city’s widely used Cool Biz tradition.
BBC Business reports that feedback on the shorts-in-the-office rule is mixed, with some commentators saying the relaxed dress code helps employees work more comfortably in the heat. Others argue the approach is unfair to women, who are still expected to wear tights when legs are exposed.
The article also describes complaints from some women who say the policy can create discomfort, including what they describe as “leg hair harassment.” A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found 53.5% opposed wearing shorts to work in summer, while 46.5% supported the recommendation.
According to BBC Business, the main concerns cited by respondents on both sides include worries about body shape and body hair, and the clinic says women significantly outnumbered men among those responding. The report says Gorilla Clinic’s director has seen more people seeking laser hair removal due to what he frames as social etiquette around wearing shorts.