Tokyo is encouraging its male workers to ditch their usual suit and tie for more casual attire like t-shirts and shorts as the country swelters through a summer heatwave.
The initiative, part of an expanded “Tokyo Cool Biz” policy, was introduced by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in April but it has proved divisive for some, with women still expected to wear tights when showing a part of their leg.
Some Japanese women have also pointed out what they are calling “leg hair harassment” or “sunehara”, referring to feeling uncomfortable about being confronted by their male colleagues’ leg hair in the office.
“We want to give people more options in the severe heat, not tell them what to wear,” Tokyo Metropolitan Government environmental official Noboru Watanabe told the BBC.
“There should be no issue as long as the work attire is not offensive to anyone.”
Some have questioned why men have gained a new freedom over what they wear to the office, while women are still burdened by longstanding expectations around appearance and grooming.
A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found opinion was divided over whether shorts belong in the office, with 53.5 per cent opposed and 46.5 per cent supportive. Women made up a larger share of those opposed, with concerns centred on body hair and appearance rather than the shorts themselves. The BBC reports some men have taken to laser treatments to remove unwanted leg hair that has been deemed offensive.
The double standard over casaul work attire in Tokyo reflects a wider norm in Japan, where women are often expected to navigate stricter and more complicated workplace dress codes than men.
In 2019, the #KuToo movement gained international attention after thousands of women signed a petition calling for an end to workplace requirements for high heels. They argued that expectations around women’s appearance were a form of gender discrimination.