India, July 24 -- As Japan battles record-breaking summer temperatures, office workers in Tokyo are swapping suits and ties for shorts - a move that is reshaping workplace dress codes and sparking conversations around comfort, gender norms and office etiquette.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government has encouraged employees to forgo heavy suits in favour of polo shirts, linen tops and sneakers, t-shirts, trainers and shorts, to stay cool while reducing air-conditioning use. The initiative builds on Japan's long-running Cool Biz campaign, introduced in 2005 to promote energy conservation during summer.

While many workers have welcomed the relaxed rules, the shift has drawn mixed reactions. According to reports, some women have questioned why men ...