JMA Defines New 'Severe Heat Day': Over 60% of Students Want Non-Suit Attire for Summer Job Hunting, Yet 80% of Companies Refuse to Adapt

i-plug Inc. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka City; Representative Director and CEO: Tomoya Nakano), operator of the new graduate offer-based job hunting service 'OfferBox', conducted a survey on summer job hunting attire targeting students scheduled to graduate in 2027 (hereinafter '2027 graduates') and companies. On April 17, 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) decided to use the term 'severe heat day (kokushobi)' to designate days with a maximum temperature of 40°C or higher. This indicates that Japan's summers can no longer be adequately captured by the traditional term 'extreme heat day' (35°C or higher). Indeed, widespread extreme heat is expected across the country again in the summer of 2026. This survey examines the preferences and intentions of both students and companies regarding job hunting during the summer months when such 'severe heat days' persist. The survey results are as follows. - 63.3% of students desire 'non-suit' attire for summer job hunting. The most common reason is 'dressing appropriately for the season (heat countermeasures)'. - 62.0% of companies still specify 'suits'. Only 20.4% of companies implement summer-only dress code changes. - There is a gap between students' desires and companies' intentions regarding summer attire. Over 60% of 2027 Graduates Want 'Non-Suit' Attire in Summer Q1. Do you want to job hunt in attire other than a recruit suit (jacket and tie for men) during the summer? (Students / Single answer) It was found that 63.3% of 2027 graduates wish to job hunt in attire other than recruit suits during the summer. Students who answered 'No (prefer suits)' remained at 36.7%. Compared to past surveys, no significant changes were observed. Q2. Please tell us the reason why you answered 'Yes' in Q1. (Students / Single answer) The most common reason for answering 'Yes' was 'I want to dress appropriately for the season' (54.4%), accounting for more than half of the total. This was followed by 'It is more comfortable than a suit' (33.6%) and 'I want to express my individuality' (6.6%). It can be inferred that there is a practical aspect of 'heat countermeasures' first and foremost, rather than appealing to individuality. Q3. (Only for those who answered 'Yes' in Q1) What kind of attire do you desire for summer job hunting? (Students / Single answer) The most desired attire was 'office casual' (44.8%). This was followed by 'no jacket required, and cool biz' (28.2%) and 'free dress code' (19.3%). Q4. Please tell us the reason why you answered 'No' in Q1. (Students / Single answer) The most common reason for answering 'No' was 'Because thinking about what to wear is a hassle' (36.7%). This was followed closely by 'Because I want to make a good impression on companies' (22.7%) and 'Because I don't know what to wear' (22.0%). Over 80% of Companies Specifying 'Suits' Will Not Change Attire in Summer, Showing a Gap with Student Needs Q5. What kind of attire do you specify for students during recruitment selections (interviews)? (Companies / Single answer) The survey of companies revealed that 62.0% of companies specify 'suits'. Meanwhile, companies stating 'No specific designation' stood at 29.3%, and those specifying 'casual clothes' remained at 3.9%. Since over 60% of students answered in Q1 that they 'want to job hunt in attire other than recruit suits in the summer', it is evident that there is a gap between student desires and corporate intentions. Furthermore, no significant changes were seen compared to the surveys of the past two years. Q6. For those who selected suit/jacket wearing in Q5. Do you have any changes (or planned changes) to the student dress code designation only during the summer for recruitment selections (interviews)? (Companies / Single answer) Among companies specifying 'suits', only 20.4% answered that they would change the dress code designation exclusively for the summer, while a significant 79.6% (nearly 80%) answered 'No change'. Currently, many companies operate consistent dress codes year-round, and flexible responses tailored to the severe summer heat are still limited to a select few. Survey Overview [Targeting 2027 Graduates (May 2026 Survey)] - Survey Period: Monday, May 11, 2026 - Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Survey Method: Internet survey - Survey Target: Students scheduled to graduate in 2027 registered on OfferBox - Valid Responses: 409 [Targeting 2026 Graduates (2025 Survey)] - Survey Period: Monday, May 12, 2025 - Thursday, May 15, 2025 - Survey Method: Internet survey - Survey Target: Students scheduled to graduate in 2026 registered on OfferBox - Valid Responses: 563