As summer temperatures soar, Japanese men are embracing leg-showing attire for work like never before.
In a push for more casual office wear, the Tokyo metropolitan government is encouraging employees to swap their traditional suits and ties for comfortable options such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike launched the “Tokyo Cool Biz” initiative in April, aiming to enhance her well-known cool-off campaign, now celebrated as a staple of summer in the city.
Nearly four months later, the new office policy allowing shorts has elicited mixed responses.
While some commentators appreciate the relaxed dress code that promotes comfort, others argue that the policy disadvantages women, who still have to wear tights when exposing their legs. Many women have also reported experiences of “leg hair harassment,” with a term emerging online called “snehara,” highlighting discomfort over colleagues’ leg hair.
“Our aim is to provide individuals with more flexibility during the sweltering heat instead of dictating their clothing choices. As long as the work attire remains comfortable for everyone, there shouldn’t be an issue,” said Noboru Watanabe, a Tokyo environment officer, to the BBC.
A survey conducted by Gorilla Clinic in June revealed that 53.5% of respondents opposed wearing shorts to the office during summer, while 46.5% favored the new guidelines.
Concerns surrounding body image and body hair were predominant reasons for opposition to shorts at work among both genders. The survey indicated a larger number of female respondents, suggesting that women may be less comfortable with the idea of their male colleagues showing off bare legs.
In recent years, a growing number of Japanese professionals, particularly in startups and tech sectors, have adopted a casual dress code. However, the Tokyo metropolitan government’s endorsement has further legitimized this trend this year. Nonetheless, some men still fret over their shin hair.
According to Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, there’s been a noticeable increase in patients seeking cosmetic solutions and “social etiquette” advice when it comes to wearing shorts. He observes that women may expect men to have less visible shin hair, prompting some men to consider laser hair removal to avoid offending peers.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk