Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has implemented a summer dress code relaxation policy called 'Tokyo Cool Biz' that permits employees to wear shorts, t-shirts, and casual trainers to work. The initiative aims to help workers manage the extreme heat while reducing energy consumption during Japan's record-breaking summer temperatures, building on energy-saving campaigns that began in 2005.

The policy has proven contentious particularly among women, who report feeling unfairly treated by expectations to maintain tights even when showing their legs, while men have begun appearing with bare legs. Some female workers have coined the term 'sunehara' to express discomfort with visible male leg hair in professional settings. Survey data showed roughly even division, with 53.5% opposing and 46.5% supporting the shorts recommendation, with body hair and body image concerns cited as primary objections by both genders.