Tokyo Urges Men to Wear Shorts to Work, Prompting ‘Leg Hair Harassment’ Backlash

As summer temperatures soar across Japan, male office workers in Tokyo are baring their legs at work like never before—sparking a heated national debate over workplace dress codes and social etiquette.

In April, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike introduced the “Tokyo Cool Biz” initiative, encouraging employees to swap traditional suit and tie attire for T-shirts, sneakers, and shorts. Almost four months into the drive, the relaxed guidelines are drawing mixed reactions.

While many workers welcome the physical comfort amid extreme heat, critics argue the recommendation exposes systemic gender double standards. In traditional Japanese office environments, female employees are still widely expected to wear tights when exposing their legs.

Additionally, the trend has birthed a new online buzzword: “sunehara”—short for “leg hair harassment”—describing female employees’ discomfort at being subjected to their male colleagues’ exposed leg hair.

“We want to give people more options in the severe heat, not tell them what to wear. There should be no issue as long as the work attire is not offensive to anyone,” stated Noboru Watanabe, an environmental official with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Public Opposition and the Rise of “Grooming Etiquette”

A June survey conducted by the Gorilla Clinic revealed that 53.5% of respondents opposed wearing shorts to work, while 46.5% supported the idea. Concerns over visible body hair and body shape topped the list of objections, with female respondents showing significantly higher resistance to seeing male colleagues in shorts.

The policy shift has driven a surge in male grooming. Akifumi Funatsu, director at Gorilla Clinic, noted a steep rise in male clients seeking laser hair removal.

“It’s no longer just cosmetic,” Funatsu explained. “It has become a matter of social etiquette when wearing shorts to work.”