Tokyo's Shorts at Work Rule Sparks 'Leg Hair Harassment' Debate

Tokyo is experiencing a very hot summer, and the city government is encouraging men to wear shorts to work instead of the usual formal suits and ties. This is part of the 'Tokyo Cool Biz' campaign, which was introduced by Governor Yuriko Koike in April. The goal is to help people stay comfortable and healthy during the extreme heat. Now, men are allowed to wear t-shirts, trainers, and shorts in the office. Some people are happy with the new relaxed dress code, saying it helps them work better in the heat. However, not everyone agrees with the policy. Some women feel it is unfair because they are still expected to wear tights if they want to show their legs, while men can wear shorts without any extra rules. Some women have even started using the term 'leg hair harassment' or 'sunehara' to describe how uncomfortable they feel seeing their male colleagues' leg hair at work. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says their goal is to give people more options for what to wear in the heat, not to force anyone to dress a certain way. They believe that as long as no one is offended by what others wear, there should not be a problem. In recent years, more Japanese workers, especially those in startups and tech companies, have started wearing casual clothes to work. This year, the government's recommendation has made it even more acceptable to dress casually. Some men have become self-conscious about their leg hair and are visiting clinics to have it removed. Dr Akifumi Funatsu, who works at Gorilla Clinic, says more men are coming in for hair removal, not just for looks but because they feel it is polite when wearing shorts. He thinks some women expect men to have less leg hair, which is why men are choosing to remove it. The idea of dressing casually in summer started in 2005 when Governor Koike was Japan's environment minister. She launched the 'Cool Biz' campaign to encourage workers to wear short-sleeve shirts and save energy. Even the prime minister at the time, Junichiro Koizumi, joined the campaign by not wearing a tie or jacket in public. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the government expanded the campaign to include even more relaxed clothing rules to help save energy at work and at home. Japan is now facing record high temperatures and rising energy prices. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned people about 'kokusho-bi,' which means extremely hot days when the temperature goes over 40 degrees Celsius. In just one week, seven people died from heatstroke and more than 4,500 were taken to the hospital. The government is telling people to drink plenty of water and use air conditioning to stay safe. People are also buying new products to help them stay cool, such as clothes with built-in fans, wet towels, umbrellas that block heat and UV rays, and portable fans. Experts say it is important to get used to the heat slowly, starting before summer arrives, so the body can adapt. Japan's high humidity makes it even harder for sweat to evaporate, which means the body cannot cool down as easily. As the summer continues, everyone in Tokyo is trying to find ways to stay cool and healthy.