Ditch suits for shorts in office, Tokyo urges men

Tokyo Metropolitan Government encourages office workers to wear shorts, polo shirts, and sneakers to beat extreme summer heat.

The relaxed dress code builds on Japan's Cool Biz campaign, launched in 2005 to promote energy conservation.

Some women criticize the policy, arguing men can wear shorts while women still face stricter dress standards, including discussions around leg hair harassment ('sunehara').

Japan is experiencing a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas and thousands of heatstroke hospitalizations.

Officials say the campaign aims to give workers more options rather than prescribing attire.