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

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.

Forecasters have warned of extreme heat this summer, with the Japan Meteorological Agency trying to raise public awareness by announcing the word "kokusho-bi", which means "brutally hot day" when the mercury exceeds 40C.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike introduced "Tokyo Cool Biz" in April, hoping to expand on her signature cool down initiative, which has now become a widely recognised annual summer tradition.