Women in Japan rise up against high heels

High heels recently sparked controversy in Japan, and a group was formed on the Internet demanding that female employees be given the freedom to wear whatever shoes they like without any restrictions or conditions.  Dozens of women participated in an event organized a few days ago in Tokyo, to highlight the plight of many women, which is represented by wearing high heels in the workplace.  It is an extension of the “Q2” movement on the Internet.  The hashtag on social media refers to the word “kyotsu,” which means “pain.”  Organizers of the event, titled “Is it OK to Look for a Job in Sneakers?”, asked male volunteers to wear five-centimeter heels and asked them to walk.  The experiment allowed men to understand the discomfort of walking in high heels.  “I would be very upset if someone asked me to wear this,” said shoemaker John Ito, 34, wearing black heels.  He immediately took off his shoes after taking a souvenir photo.  He added, "Wearing heels makes me feel unstable and my feet sweat."

The event, organized by the Change Organization, aims to draw attention to ideal working conditions, and question the necessity of heels in the workplace from different points of view, as it challenges the rules of etiquette in Japan.

“I hope there will come a day when women don't have to wear heels in the workplace,” says writer Yumi Ishikawa, who launched the Q2 movement. “Why do we have to hurt our feet at work, while men are allowed to we