Fired for Sweating? My Unbelievable Experience Working in Japan’s Summer Heat

If you’ve ever been to Japan in summer, you know it’s not just hot—it’s the kind of humid, soul-crushing heat that makes you sweat just by thinking about moving. So when I moved to Osaka to work at an eikaiwa (English conversation school), I thought, “Okay, this is going to be rough, but I’ll manage.”

 

What I didn’t realize was that my ability to sweat would soon become a fireable offense.

 

 

It was mid-August, and my company had a strict dress code: full suits, every day, no exceptions. Jackets included. Now, if you’ve never experienced 35°C (95°F) with 94% humidity while wearing a suit, let me tell you—it’s basically self-imposed heatstroke.

 

I tried everything—cooling wipes, Japan’s so-called "deodorant" (which, let’s be honest, is just scented water), and sheer willpower. But by lunchtime, I could feel it: beads of sweat on my forehead, damp patches forming under my arms.

 

That’s when my manager called me into his office.

 

Manager: "I just noticed you’re sweating."

Me: "Yes… It’s 35 degrees outside."

Manager: "Japanese people don’t do that. If you want to work here, you’ll have to learn not to do it too."

 

Now, I had heard this before—this idea that Japanese people don’t sweat or don’t produce body odor. But let me tell you something:

 

If you’ve ever been on the Keio Line from Shinjuku to Hachioji after 6 PM in summer, you’ll know this is a complete lie. That train gets packed, the air barely moves, and everyone—Japanese or not—is sweating. The only difference is that they pretend not to notice.

 

 

The next day, I turned up determined not to sweat. Spoiler alert: I failed. By 3 PM, I could feel the familiar prickle of sweat creeping down my back. My manager saw me. He said nothing.

 

At the end of the day, I went back to my desk and found a letter waiting for me.

 

"Due to numerous warnings (read: one warning), you have refused to stop (as if I had a choice). As a result, we have no choice but to terminate your employment."

 

And just like that, I was fired. For sweating. In Japan. In the middle of summer.

 

 

After sharing my story, I learned that I’m not alone. Some foreigners in Japan have resorted to stuffing feminine hygiene products under their arms to absorb sweat before it shows on their shirts. Honestly? Genius. If I had thought of it, I might still have a job.

 

 

So, if you’re thinking about working in Japan, let me give you some advice:

 

1. Invest in a portable fan. Or two. Maybe even three.

2. Import real deodorant from abroad. Japan’s won’t save you.

3. Consider… unconventional solutions. Sweat pads, feminine hygiene products—whatever it takes.

4. Prepare for some weird workplace expectations. Not all companies are this extreme, but some are.

5. If someone tells you “Japanese people don’t sweat,” take a ride on the Keio Line after 6 PM. You’ll see the truth.

 

And if you ever get called into your boss’s office because you dared to sweat in 35°C weather, just know—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. And honestly? I still think I won that argument.