Published on
16/07/2026 - 7:00 GMT+2
On a hot and humid day in Tokyo, metropolitan government official Noboru Watanabe overcame embarrassment to come to work in shorts, an unusual choice in a country where formal business attire is still the norm.
The loosening of a strict dress code, particularly for men, comes as Japanese offices strive to cut reliance on air conditioning due to high energy costs linked to the Middle East war.
On Tuesday, as temperatures in the capital soared to around 34C, at least five brave men at Watanabe's office swapped their suits for shorts.
