Japan office dress code clash over shorts and exposed legs

A severe heatwave sweeping Japan, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C, has led prefectural authorities to urge employers to loosen strict dress codes. Offices in Tokyo are being encouraged to allow t‑shirts, gym shoes and shorts. The change has sparked a backlash among many female staff who describe seeing male colleagues' hairy legs as harassment, dubbing the phenomenon “sunehara.” A BBC‑cited survey shows public opinion divided, with 53.5 % opposing shorts and 46.5 % supporting them. The episode highlights concerns about gender equality, as women are still expected to wear tights in the heat. The heatwave also caused a health surge, with 287 people taken to Tokyo hospitals for heatstroke on a single day, the highest figure recorded this year.