Key facts
- Shorts are becoming more popular as office wear in Japan due to increasingly hot summers.
- The Tokyo government has implemented a policy allowing public servants to wear shorts to work.
- This initiative is part of the broader 'Cool Biz' campaign aimed at reducing energy consumption.
- The trend has led to increased sales for apparel makers offering business-casual shorts.
- The policy has generated discussion about workplace etiquette, particularly concerning 'leg-hair harassment' and gendered expectations.
Shorts are emerging as a surprising new staple in Japan's traditionally formal office attire, driven by successive record-breaking summer heatwaves and government initiatives to conserve energy. Apparel makers are capitalizing on this trend, with Sanyo Shokai exceeding its sales goals for business-casual shorts.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has begun encouraging its public servants to wear shorts as part of its 'Cool Biz' campaign, a long-standing initiative aimed at reducing air conditioning use and greenhouse gas emissions. This year, the policy has been amplified by concerns over energy security, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices, which particularly impacts resource-poor Japan's heavy reliance on oil imports from the region.
While the move is intended to improve comfort and reduce energy dependence, it has ignited discussions about workplace etiquette and gendered expectations. The term 'sune-hara,' or 'leg-hair harassment,' has been coined to describe the discomfort some women feel observing male colleagues' bare legs. Critics argue that the policy, while officially gender-neutral, unfairly burdens women who still face pressure to maintain more conservative dress codes, including wearing pantyhose or long skirts.
Officials like Tokyo environmental official Noboru Watanabe have embraced the change, reporting feeling younger and more approachable, and believing it helps relax the office atmosphere. However, differing opinions persist, with some employees acknowledging the potential for jarring sights in a professional setting. The 'Cool Biz' initiative, originally launched in 2005, has gradually expanded, and the current climate crisis and energy concerns have pushed the boundaries further, with shorts now being considered a necessary step in reducing attire layers.