Japanese workers are asked to wear shorts - but some people don't like the hairy legs!
Today’s article is about a Japanese hot summer and people’s clothing choices at work. Some people are not happy and some don’t mind. How would you feel?
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🚀 Find your level and then practice the exercises below!
Beginner Level (A1/A2)
Japan has a new idea for hot summer days. Some workers in Tokyo can wear shorts at work. The idea is to help people stay cool and use less air conditioning. Some people like shorts because they are easy and comfortable.
But not everyone likes this change. Some people think shorts are for holidays, not for the office. Others talk about men showing their hairy legs at work. They say it looks strange or not professional. The shorts debate shows that Japan is thinking about new ways to work in very hot weather.
- worker — a person with a job
- shorts — short trousers
- comfortable — feeling good
- clothes — things people wear
- holiday — time away from work
- hairy — having a lot of hair
- strange — unusual or different
- professional — good or suitable for work
- weather — the condition outside (hot, cold, rainy, etc.)
- debate — a discussion with different opinions
Intermediate Level (B1/B2)
Tokyo has encouraged some workers to wear shorts during the hot summer months. The aim is to help people stay comfortable and reduce the use of air conditioning. Supporters say that lighter clothing can make working in extreme heat easier and can help save energy. This idea is part of Japan’s wider effort to change office clothing rules during the summer.
However, the idea has created a debate among workers. Some people believe shorts are too casual and are better suited for holidays than for the workplace. Others have raised concerns about men showing their hairy legs in the office, saying it may look less professional. The discussion shows how Japan is trying to balance traditional workplace culture with the need to adapt to hotter weather.
- encourage — to support or suggest an action
- aim — a goal or purpose
- comfortable — feeling relaxed and good
- reduce — to make something smaller or less
- air conditioning — a system that makes air cooler
- supporter — a person who agrees with an idea
- extreme heat — very high temperatures
- energy — power used for electricity or machines
- casual — relaxed, not formal
- workplace — the place where people work
- concern — a worry or problem
- hairy — having a lot of hair
- traditional — connected to old customs or ideas
- culture — the way of life and beliefs of a group
- adapt — to change because of a new situation
- debate — a discussion with different opinions
Native Level (C1)
As temperatures continue to rise, Tokyo has encouraged some employees to wear shorts in the workplace as part of efforts to stay comfortable and reduce reliance on air conditioning. Supporters argue that more relaxed dress codes could help workers cope with extreme heat while also lowering energy use. The move reflects a wider shift in Japan, where companies are reconsidering traditional ideas about professional appearance during increasingly hot summers.
However, the policy has sparked a lively debate about workplace culture and social expectations. While some employees welcome the change, others feel that shorts are too informal and are more appropriate for leisure time than the office. The discussion has also included reactions to men displaying hairy legs at work, with some people questioning whether this looks professional. The controversy highlights the challenge of balancing long-standing customs with the need to adapt to a changing climate.
- workplace — the place where people work
- dress code — rules about what clothes people should wear
- reliance — depending on something for help or support
- supporter — someone who agrees with an idea
- energy use — the amount of power people consume
- shift — a change from one situation to another
- professional appearance — looking suitable for work
- debate — a discussion with different opinions
- social expectations — ideas about how people should behave
- informal — relaxed and not official
- leisure time — free time when you are not working
- controversy — a public disagreement or argument
- customs — traditional ways of doing things
- adapt — to change to fit a new situation
Sources for this story: The Japan Times Euronews
True or False Exercises
Can you get these 5 questions right?
1 . Everyone in Japan agrees that shorts are a good choice for the workplace.
true / false
2. Supporters of the idea believe that lighter clothing can help reduce the use of air conditioning.
true / false
✅ true
3. Some people think shorts are more suitable for holidays than for professional workplaces.
true / false
✅ true
4. The debate shows that Japan is trying to balance traditional work culture with the effects of a changing climate.
true / false
✅ true
5. The debate about shorts at work is only about saving money and has nothing to do with workplace culture.
true / false
✅ false
ℹ️ The debate is not only about saving energy. It is also about changing ideas of professionalism in Japan.
Vocabulary Quiz
Which answer matches the meaning?
1 . encourage
A) To stop someone from doing something
B) To support or suggest an action
C) To forget about an idea
2. adapt
A) To keep everything the same
B) To change to fit a new situation
C) To make something more expensive
3. controversy
A) A public disagreement or argument
B) A type of workplace clothing
C) A friendly conversation
4. Professional
A) Related to holidays and free time
B) Difficult to understand
C) Suitable for work or business
5. reduce
A) To make something smaller or less
B) To increase something quickly
C) To explain something clearly
