Tokyo urges men to wear shorts to work, but some women say it's 'leg hair harassment'

In recent years more Japanese workers, notably those working at startups and tech companies, have started wearing casual clothes. But this year, the Tokyo government recommendation has made it more socially acceptable. Still, some men have been feeling self-conscious about their leg hair.Akifumi Funatsu, the director of Gorilla Clinic, says he has noticed more clients coming to the clinic not just for cosmetic reasons, but as a matter of "social etiquette when wearing shorts". He thinks women believe that "men should have less leg hair", which has prompted them to seek laser hair removal so as not to offend those around them.Getty ImagesKoike first introduced the summer wardrobe shift as Japan's environment minister in 2005. She launched a national energy-saving campaign called "Cool Biz" to encourage company workers to opt for short-sleeve shirts.Government leaders participated in the initiative, with then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi often seen in public without wearing a tie or jacket, helping get the word out.A few years later following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the government launched "Super Cool Biz" which expanded the guidelines to help reduce energy use both at work and at home.As with other parts of the world, Japan has been experiencing record heat in recent months while grappling with soaring energy prices driven by instability in the Middle East.Forecasters have warned of extreme heat this summer, with the Japan-meteorological-agency" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="3275" data-entity-type="organization">Japan Meteorological Agency trying to raise public awareness by announcing the word "kokusho-bi", which means "brutally hot day" when the mercury exceeds 40C.