Feet First: Japan’s High‑Heel Hate‑Squad Takes the Stand
On a sunny Monday (June 3rd), a band of bold Japanese women filed a petition that’s sure to make your shoes vibrate. They’re demanding a law that forbids employers from making their staff put on high‑heels every day. Welcome to the #KuToo movement—yes, that’s a pun on “kutsu” (shoes) and “kutsuu” (pain).
Why the Fuss Over Height?
For many Japanese companies, walking on the heels of success means literally standing on tip‑toes. From corporate interviews to office cubicles, the silhouette of a high‑heel is almost mandatory. It’s a silent rule that’s been in place longer than most of us have been in the workforce.
Yumi Ishikawa, the actress‑turned‑writer who jammed the idea together, says she got the spark after a tweet about a hotel job that required heels blew up on the socials. “I saw people across the country facing the same ankle‑sore problem,” she recalls, sparking the Pu‑ridty of a new campaign.
Patience, Please! The Ministry Gets A Nod
- Yumi met with the labour ministry and was met by a sympathetic woman who told her, “This is the first time voices like ours have reached the ministry.”
- “A first step forward,” Yumi said. “We’re kicking the ball into the net and we want to finish the goal.”
- Ministry officials were shy to comment, but that’s only fuel for the fire.
Comparisons That Won’t Slip Off Their Feet
Some campaigners are translating high heels into what they call a modern foot‑binding, while others are pushing for relaxation of the closet code—the perfectly stuck‑in-bustler dress for men.
And guess what? Even the Cannes Film Festival tossed in a red‑carpet drama back in 2015. The director apologized after the announcement that women couldn’t use the red carpet if they weren’t wearing heels. Julia Roberts famously defied it barefoot next year and sent a clarion call to the world.
Other Nations Are Joining the Foot‑Freedom Frontier
In 2017, British Columbia (Canada) took a bold move. They banned the mandatory use of high heels for women at work, citing it as both dangerous and discriminatory. The precedent could be the seed for a global plant of change.
What’s Next for the #KuToo Movement?
Yumi and her allies are hoping for a law that stops the heel‑peace demand from being a de‑facto requirement. If passed, it would put an end to the time‑honest reality where women step over lines to match the expectations of a corporate culture that still leans into archaic perfection.
“We’ve started a conversation, and communication is the key—once the conversation shifts, the shoe‑game either changes or stops altogether,” Yumi says.
So whether you’re sliding those stilettos into the jar or planning to stand on flat, the #KuToo rocket is about to change the runway of workplace fashion for good. Let’s keep our feet, and our rights, in true stride!
