Japan labor minister: Dress codes requiring high heels 'necessary'
Japan labor minister: Dress codes requiring high heels 'necessary'
June 6 (UPI) -- Dress codes by Japanese companies that require women to wear high heels are "occupationally necessary," Tokyo's labor minister said in response to a growing movement to dismiss the mandate.
Takumi Nemoto, Japan's health, labor and welfare minister, answered the growing calls on Wednesday.
"It is socially accepted as something that falls within the realm of being occupationally necessary and appropriate," he said . "Whether the employers' requirement to wear high heels is an abuse of power or not depends on whether the requirement goes beyond the social understanding of what is necessary and appropriate."
Nemoto said the rule would only be "abuse" if an employer tried to make an injured employee wear the shoes.
Critic Kanako Otsuji, a member of the minority Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said the dress code rule applies only to women and that wearing high heels in the workplace is outdated.
Nearly 19,000 people in Japan delivered a petition Monday asking the government to ban corporate dress codes that mandate high heels. It was started by actress Yumi Ishikawa under the #KuToo name, a takeoff of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.
The moniker is a play off the words kutsu, which means shoes in Japanese, and kutsuu, which means pain.
High heels exist basically so that men can admire the view as a woman walks away.
I am not aware that is actually a 'necessity' in a place of employment .
If they were then all the men should be required to wear them as well.
All men should be made to wear athletic cups then.
Not only does it make them look trimmer and more professional, but if they spend too much time looking at the high heeled women's behinds, the pain it will cause will be a reminder to get their minds back on work.
Actually it seems that the sensible thing to do would be to require men to wear bras as well...
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I've seen quite a few men who need to wear one.
You don't live and work in Japan, do you?
They are more of a necessity in the bed room, along with garter belts, silk stockings, and satin panties.
Of course its a necessity (I though everyone knew that?).
But I'm surprised the gov't held back-- what they really need to do is extend the law to require woman to go topless in places of work-- now that would be real progress!
But I'm surprised the gov't held back-- what they really need to do is extend the law to require woman to go topless in places of work-- now that would be real progress!
Not that normal men would find that sexually arousing-- in fact research has shown that normal men are not turned on at all by viewing womens' breasts (well, except for a small number of perverts of course).
I am not aware that is actually a 'necessity' in a place of employment .
Well, there are some individuals who do it of their own accord:
Stunning shop girl reels customers in with topless sales tactic
A SHOPPER filmed the moment a female jewellery store worker helped serve customers while wearing virtually no clothes
My compliments to the Japanese Labor Minister!
As it should be!
Well Done!
What is ironic, a lot of places around the world are banning high heels, particularly around antiquities.
And cobblestones. High heels and cobblestones (or brick sidewalks in small towns) are a nightmare.
The average height of a Japanese man is 5' 7''....A Japanese women is 5' 2''.....If women are required to wear high heels, say a 3'' heel. That would make their average height 5' 5'' inches. To maintain the 5 '' height advantage men should be required to wear platform shoes....
I would recommend something on the order of what this fellow is wearing.