Japan expands workplace dress code to shorts as extreme heat crisis intensifies

Japan expands workplace dress code to shorts as extreme heat crisis intensifies

Japan is confronting one of its most severe summer heat crises on record, prompting Tokyo authorities to expand workplace dress guidelines to include shorts as the nation battles temperatures nearing 40°C and a surge in heat-related hospitalizations.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has updated its Tokyo Cool Biz campaign to encourage lighter office attire, including T-shirts, trainers and shorts, in an effort to help employees cope with increasingly dangerous heat while reducing energy consumption. Air conditioning accounts for approximately 58% of power consumption during peak afternoon hours on summer days in Japan, making dress code adjustments a significant energy-saving measure.

Officials emphasized the guidance offers workers flexibility rather than imposing requirements.

"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," said Noboru Watanabe, a Tokyo Metropolitan Government environmental official.

Health crisis deepens

The expansion comes as Japan faces an unprecedented health emergency. Over 10,850 people were transported to hospitals by ambulance for heatstroke in the week through July 20, marking the first time the weekly number exceeded 10,000 since surveys began in May. The figure represents a 2.4-fold increase from the preceding week, with authorities reporting 14 deaths and 321 severe cases requiring hospitalization for at least three weeks.

The Japan Meteorological Agency introduced the term "kokushobi," meaning "cruelly hot day," in April following a public vote in which 203,000 people selected the designation for temperatures exceeding 40°C. The new terminology, chosen over alternatives like "chōmōshobi" (super extremely hot day), marks the first addition to official weather language since "mōshobi" (extremely hot day) was introduced in 2007 for temperatures above 35°C. Three cities crossed the 40°C threshold on Tuesday, while other areas including Nagoya and regions near Tokyo approached similar levels on Wednesday.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued across 41 of Japan's 47 prefectures. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency described the heat as a "disaster," urging residents, particularly elderly people, to stay indoors where possible, remain hydrated and use air conditioning. Historical data shows heatstroke deaths averaged approximately 1,300 annually in the five years to 2022, with more than 80% of cases involving people aged over 65. Approximately 90% of indoor heatstroke deaths occurred in homes where air conditioning was either not being used or not owned.

An 85-year-old farmer was found collapsed inside a greenhouse in Tochigi prefecture on Tuesday and later confirmed dead, with local officials reporting the greenhouse had become extremely hot.

Climate context

The crisis follows Japan's hottest summer on record in 2025, when average nationwide temperatures reached 2.36°C above normal. Temperatures topped 40°C on nine days between June and August last year, with the mercury hitting 41.8°C in Isesaki city on August 5, marking the highest temperature recorded nationwide. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events to human-driven climate change.

Mixed public response

The decision to relax workplace dress expectations has generated divided reactions. A June survey by Gorilla Clinic found that 53.5% of respondents opposed wearing shorts to work, while 46.5% supported the idea. Many opponents cited concerns over appearance, body shape and body hair, with the survey suggesting women were more likely than men to object to seeing male colleagues wearing shorts in the office.

The debate has spawned a new online expression: "sunehara," or "leg hair harassment," referring to discomfort over visible leg hair in professional settings. Some men have reportedly sought laser hair removal before adopting the more relaxed dress code. Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, said more clients were requesting treatment not simply for cosmetic reasons but because they regarded it as workplace etiquette.

Some women have argued the policy exposes a double standard, noting that while men are now encouraged to dress more casually, women in many traditional offices still face expectations to wear tights when their legs are exposed.

Evolution of Cool Biz

The latest changes build on the original Cool Biz campaign launched in 2005 by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike when she served as Japan's environment minister. The programme encouraged workers to abandon jackets and ties during summer to reduce reliance on air conditioning, with then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi publicly embracing the campaign. In its first year, the Ministry of the Environment estimated the initiative led to a reduction of approximately 460,000 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the emissions produced by approximately 1 million households for one month, with 95.8% of respondents aware of the programme.

Major Japanese companies including Toyota and Mitsubishi Motors explicitly instructed employees not to wear jackets and ties during the initial campaign, even during business meetings with partners. By 2006, the estimated CO2 reduction had grown to 1.14 million tons, and workplace implementation increased from less than a third in 2005 to 57% by 2009.

Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which caused widespread power shortages after nuclear power plants were shut down for safety reasons, the government expanded the initiative into Super Cool Biz and extended the campaign period from the usual June to September to May through October. The Cool Biz campaign recommends setting office air conditioners to 28°C, with estimates indicating that elevating the preset temperature from 25°C to 28°C could reduce cooling energy consumption by approximately 10% per degree Celsius increase.

As temperatures continue to rise, many Japanese are turning to practical cooling solutions, from clothing fitted with built-in fans and UV-blocking umbrellas to handheld cooling devices. Health experts continue urging people to prepare for prolonged periods of dangerous heat as the climate crisis intensifies.