FEMALE workers have complained of “leg hair harassment” after their male colleagues were encouraged to wear shorts as temperatures soar.
Disgruntled female office workers in Japan have expressed their irritation as their male counterparts get their legs out as part of a government heatwave health initiative.
Female workers complain of ‘leg hair harassment’ as male colleagues ditch trousers in hot weather Credit: AFP
Women are still expected wear tights when their work attire exposes their legs Credit: AFP
While some enjoy the relaxed rules others say the policy is discriminatory.
Social convention and etiquette expects women to still wear tights when their work attire exposes their legs in a traditional Japanese office environment.
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Many women describe the experience as “leg hair harassment” or “sunehara” as coined online.
Named “Tokyo Cool Biz”, the initiative has become a stalwart in the hotter months in the country’s business capital.
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The ‘Tokyo Cool Biz’ was introduced as a heatwave initiative Credit: AFP
Many women find it uncomfortable seeing their colleges bare legs Credit: AFP
It comes as part of an upgraded version of “Cool Biz”, an energy-saving campaign that encouraged bureaucrats to ditch ties and jackets in summer, started in 2005.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government environmental official Noboru Watanabe told the BBC: “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.”
A survey conducted in June by Gorilla Clinic revealed 53.5 per cent of people opposed the wearing of shorts to work in summer while 46.5 per cent were in favour.
The results suggested women significantly outnumbered men in their opposition, indicating that women were more resistant to seeing a male colleague’s bare legs.
For all those against shorts in the office the main reason cited was the concern over body shape and body hair.
Sachie Koike, a 52-year-old real estate agent, said she was fine with men ditching a tie or jacket in summer but thinks shorts are a step too far.
She said: “I associate them with a day-off.
“I just don’t think hairy legs look very neat.”
Takayuki Deguchi, a 30-year-old marketing employee says he would love take part in the initiative but his work still insists on suits.
He said: “I think being able to wear shorts that allow you to regulate your temperature when it’s so hot is a very flexible approach.”
The loosening of a strict dress code, particularly for men, comes as Japanese offices cut reliance on air conditioning due to high energy costs linked to the Middle East war.
On Wednesday temperatures in Japan soared past 40C.
The Tokyo Fire Department said a total of 287 people, aged three to 103, were taken to the city’s hospitals on Tuesday because of apparent heatstroke, the BBC reports.
Last year Japan sweltered through its hottest summer since records began in 1898, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme weather more frequent, prolonged and intense.
