Japan has experienced a difficult summer. In addition to kokushobi – the local term for "days of oppressive heat" exceeding 40 degrees Celsius – the country has found itself divided over sunehara, a portmanteau of "sune" (calf) and "hara" (harassment), describing "calf hair harassment." The "victims," in this case, are women who say they cannot endure the perceived tyranny of seeing men's hairy calves. This situation has arisen since Tokyo introduced in April an expanded "cool biz" dress policy aimed at adapting to climate change by promoting casual office attire.
The metropolitan government decided to encourage its employees to abandon their traditional business suits. "We want to give people more options to cope with this intense heat, not dictate how they should dress," explained Noboru Watanabe, the official in charge of environmental issues in the capital at the time.
The move was unsurprising for an administration led by Yuriko Koike. In 2005, as environment minister, she launched the original "cool biz" initiative to limit air conditioning use, which drives spikes in electricity consumption, by setting office temperatures to 28 degrees Celsius and allowing lighter clothing. The policy was widely adopted in both government agencies and private companies, but steadily rising temperatures have prompted further action.
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