Dyed hair and nail art ok! More Japanese firms relax rules in tussle for workers

About this update from Tokyo Metro Co Ltd

By Satoshi Sugiyama When 22-year-old Hinako Mori moved to Tokyo last year, she chose to work part-time at Don Quijote, a major discount retailer, for one main reason - it doesn't care what colour her hair is.Sporting ash blonde locks with light and dark blue streaks when interviewed, Mori likes to dye her hair different colours every six weeks.It was very different when she worked at a major Japanese convenience store chain that mandated black or dark brown hair."One time, I dared to dye my hair blonde. But the next day, I was told to either wear a wig or use spray-on colour," said Mori. "It was very stressful."RETAILERS RELAX RULESSqueezed by Japan's tight labour market, more companies are this year following in the footsteps of Don Quijote, a Pan Pacific International TSE:7532 group company. It relaxed its rules around hair and nail polish three years ago and says nearly a quarter of its employees now have brightly coloured hair. When brown is included, 55% of its employees have non-black hair.Drugstore chain Fuji Yakuhin, for example, has done away with a plethora of rules for non-pharmacist employees. It now allows any hair colour, nail art, heavy makeup, as well as all kinds of rings, whereas previously only wedding rings were permitted. Similarly, the operator of Tokyu Store supermarkets has dialled back restrictions on hair colours, hair styles, accessories, nail polish and piercings. Japan Inc has been gradually relaxing its dress codes over the past two decades. The catalyst was a 2005 Ministry of Environment "Cool Biz" campaign that encouraged the ditching of jackets and ties to cut down on air conditioning costs during summer.Since then, summer dress codes have become more casual, uniforms are no longer mandated for many department store employees and white gloves for taxi drivers were made optional.The newest changes around hair colour, nail polish and accessories are predominantly taking place at smaller companies facing more acute labour shortages than bigger firms and don't have as much leeway to offer competitive wages.But some big listed firms have relaxed dress codes this year. Japan Airlines TSE:9201 last week joined subway operator Tokyo Metro TSE:9023 and domestic budget carrier Skymark Airlines TSE:9204 in allowing staff to wear sneakers to work. LABOUR CRUNCH PRESSUREJapan, a rapidly ageing country with limited immigration, has seen...

View stock analysis, news, and events for Tokyo Metro Co Ltd