Women cite 'leg hair harassment' as Tokyo men wear shorts to work

International

THE Tokyo Metropolitan Government is urging male employees to wear more casual attire, such as shorts, T-shirts, and trainers, instead of the conventional suit and tie, as temperatures continue to rise.

"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," Noboru Watanabe, an environmental official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said in a BBC report.

The "Tokyo Cool Biz" initiative, launched in April by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, aims to expand her signature cooling campaign, which has become a well-known annual tradition.

However, almost four months since its implementation, the newly permitted office shorts policy has received mixed reactions. While some welcomed the move for allowing employees to work more comfortably, others argued that it is unfair to women, who are often expected to wear tights when showing part of their legs.

Some women have also referred to the experience of being forced to see their male colleagues' leg hair as "leg hair harassment," or "sunehara."

According to a June survey conducted by Gorilla Clinic, 53.3% of respondents opposed wearing shorts to work during the summer, while 46.5% supported the policy. The clinic added that among both male and female respondents who opposed the policy, concerns over body shape and body hair were the primary reasons.

Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, said more clients have been visiting the clinic for what they describe as "social etiquette when wearing shorts," with some seeking laser hair removal to avoid offending women around them.

In 2005, then-Environment Minister Yuriko Koike launched the "Cool Biz" campaign, encouraging workers and government officials, including then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, to wear short-sleeved shirts instead of formal business attire.

A few months after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the government introduced the "Super Cool Biz" campaign to expand the relaxed workplace dress codes, reducing energy consumption in offices and households.

Like many parts of the world, Japan has been experiencing record-breaking heat in recent months while also grappling with soaring energy prices driven by instability in the Middle East.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has declared several "kokusho-bi," or "brutally hot days," when temperatures exceed 40°C.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, seven people died from heatstroke, while 4,580 others were hospitalized during the seven-day period from July 6 to 12.(Marry Ann Aquilla, UP Cebu Comm Intern)