Tokyo Urges Men to Wear Shorts to Work as Summer Heat Bites

Tokyo Metropolitan Government is encouraging company employees to swap suits and ties for more casual summer clothing, including shorts, as temperatures rise, according to BBC. The recommendation, branded "Tokyo Cool Biz" by Governor Yuriko Koike, has drawn mixed reactions: some workers welcome the comfort, while others say it is unfair because women are still expected to wear tights and some describe discomfort over seeing male colleagues’ leg hair. A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found 53.5% of respondents opposed wearing shorts to work in summer, while 46.5% supported the recommendation. The BBC reported that Japan is also facing record heat and soaring energy prices, and the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of extreme heat this summer. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said seven people died from heatstroke and 4,580 were admitted to hospital in the seven days from 6-12 July.