Tokyo office shorts trend sparks ‘leg hair harassment’ backlash as Japan battles extreme summer heat

Japan’s relentless summer heat has sparked an unlikely workplace controversy, with some women complaining that men’s hairy legs have become the latest office distraction.

As temperatures climb across the country, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has encouraged workers to swap traditional business suits for lighter clothing, including T-shirts, trainers and, for the first time, shorts.

The move is part of Governor Yuriko Koike’s expanded “Tokyo Cool Biz” campaign, designed to help workers stay comfortable while reducing energy consumption.

But while many welcomed the relaxed dress code, others say the new look has created an unexpected problem.

The debate has exploded online over what some have dubbed as “leg hair harassment” or “sunehara” in Japanese, referring to the discomfort some people feel when colleagues arrive at work with bare, hairy legs.

Others argue the policy has exposed a double standard.

While men are now free to wear shorts in many workplaces, women say they are often still expected to wear tights or maintain stricter grooming standards when showing their legs.

“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,” Tokyo Metropolitan Government environmental official Noboru Watanabe told the BBC.

The backlash has also sparked a surprising new trend.

Dr Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, says more men are seeking laser hair removal before embracing the new office dress code.

He says many clients are no longer booking treatments purely for cosmetic reasons, but because they believe smoother legs have become part of workplace etiquette when wearing shorts.

The shift reflects how quickly attitudes towards office fashion are changing in Japan, where dark business suits and ties have long been regarded as the professional standard. While start-ups and technology companies have gradually embraced more casual clothing in recent years, the Tokyo government’s endorsement has given many workers confidence to ditch the jacket and tie altogether.

The policy comes as Japan endures another summer of extreme heat.

Forecasters have warned of dangerously high temperatures, with the Japan Meteorological Agency introducing the term “kokusho-bi” — meaning a brutally hot day when temperatures exceed 40C — to help communicate the growing risks.

Heat-related illnesses continue to climb. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, seven people died from heatstroke and 4,580 others were taken to hospital during the week of July 6 to 12 alone.

Experts say adapting to the heat is becoming increasingly important as hotter summers become more common.

But while Tokyo’s latest workplace initiative aims to help employees stay cool, it has also revealed that changing office culture can be just as challenging as changing the weather.

Could Australia’s workplaces be next to embrace the shorts revolution when summer returns?