FamilyMart will introduce new dress-code rules allowing employees to wear T-shirt uniforms, any hair color, and religious head-coverings [1].
The policy change aims to address chronic labor shortages by attracting a more diverse workforce, including foreign nationals and people from various cultural backgrounds [1, 3].
The new rules take effect in September 2026 [1, 3]. Under the updated guidelines, staff across FamilyMart stores nationwide in Japan may wear T-shirt uniforms and are no longer restricted by hair color requirements [1, 2]. The company will also formally permit the wearing of religious head-coverings, such as the hijab [1, 3].
Kenji Taniguchi, a store-support manager, said that while the company had recognized these needs on an individual basis in the past, it is now formally codifying the permissions to coincide with a refresh of the uniforms [1].
FamilyMart employs approximately 200,000 staff members in Japan [1]. Of that total, foreign staff make up 13% of the workforce [1]. The company believes that removing rigid aesthetic and cultural barriers will make the roles more appealing to a wider range of applicants, an essential step as the retail sector struggles to fill vacancies.
By moving away from traditional Japanese corporate grooming standards, the chain seeks to create a more inclusive environment. This shift reflects a broader trend in the Japanese service industry to adapt to a changing demographic landscape where foreign labor has become vital to daily operations [1, 3].
“FamilyMart will permit hijabs and any hair color starting in September 2026.”
This policy shift signals a pragmatic response to Japan's shrinking working-age population. By dismantling strict grooming and dress codes that historically favored a homogenous look, FamilyMart is acknowledging that inclusivity is now a business necessity for operational survival in the retail sector.
