Tokyo Cool Biz shorts policy sparks leg‑hair harassment debate

Tokyo’s metropolitan government has expanded its long‑running “Cool Biz” programme, urging office workers—especially men—to replace suits and ties with t‑shirts, sneakers and shorts to cope with extreme summer heat and cut energy use. Governor Yuriko Koike introduced the new recommendation in April, building on the 2005 cool‑down campaign.

The change has divided opinion. Many welcome the comfort it brings, but a sizable number of women say seeing male colleagues’ bare, hairy legs is uncomfortable. The phenomenon has been labeled “sunehara” – literally “leg‑hair harassment.” BBC‑quoted environment official Noboru Watanabe said, “We want to give people more options in the severe heat, not tell them what to wear.”

A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found 53.5 % of respondents oppose wearing shorts at work, while 46.5 % support the recommendation. Opposition is driven chiefly by concerns over body shape and leg hair, with women twice as likely as men to object. The debate also highlights a gender double standard: women are still expected to wear tights or stockings when exposing their legs, a point critics say the policy ignores. Some men are turning to laser hair removal to avoid offending female colleagues.

The discussion occurs amid record‑high temperatures exceeding 40 °C, prompting broader public health warnings and a push for energy‑saving measures.