As competition for staff intensifies, more Japanese firms relax dress codes

When 22-year-old Hinako Mori moved to Tokyo in 2024, she chose to work part-time at Don Quijote, a major discount retailer, for one main reason – it does not care what colour her hair is.

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Sporting ash blonde locks with light and dark blue streaks when interviewed, Ms 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 Ms Mori. "It was very stressful."

Squeezed by Japan's tight labour market, more companies are in 2025 following in the footsteps of Don Quijote, a Pan Pacific International 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 per cent 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 and heavy makeup, as well as all kinds of rings, whereas previously only wedding rings were permitted.