Environment Cool Biz goes further: Tokyo officials trade suits for shorts

Tokyo's metropolitan government is telling staff to wear shorts to work to reduce air conditioning use, an official said Friday, as worries grow over high energy costs tied to the war in the Middle East. The move expands "Cool Biz", an energy-saving campaign launched by Japan's environment ministry in 2005. Back then, civil servants were urged to drop ties and jackets in summer, and some turned up in Okinawan-style collared T-shirts.


Now the idea is being pushed further. An unnamed Tokyo official said the energy squeeze linked to the Middle East conflict was one factor behind the decision to go a step further and allow shorts from this month. Not the only reason, but clearly part of it. Earlier this week, footage in local media already showed some male employees at Tokyo government offices wearing shorts and T-shirts. It is happening, at least in some departments.

Governor Yuriko Koike, who helped launch Cool Biz as environment minister about 20 years ago, is backing the change. She said earlier this month that staff are being encouraged to dress in "cool" clothing that puts comfort first — polo shirts, T-shirts, sneakers, and, depending on the work, shorts. She pointed to what she described as a severe outlook for electricity supply and demand this summer.

The new Cool Biz initiative also includes a greater shift toward teleworking and starting work early, Koike added. Last year Japan sweltered through its hottest summer since records began in 1898, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Temperatures rising to 40°C and above have become so common that the agency unveiled an official designation last week for these extreme weather events, labelling them "cruelly hot" or "kokusho" days.

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Source: Hot pants: Tokyo government workers swap suits for shorts

I don't understand this guy: Gearoid Reidy of Bloomberg argues against wearing shorts to work.

Summers were not as brutal in the 2000s as they are now, with the campaign aimed at saving energy, rather than lives. But for all the recent trend of hotter, longer summers, shorts take this permission structure too far. Shorts are fine at the park but, double standards be damned, they don't belong at the workplace. And they almost inevitably lead to the wearing of sandals, arguably an even greater sin.

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"Sandals and shorts do not belong in the workplace"? Is professionalism at work really tied to how much skin we cover? Sounds rather haughty to me.

I could understand a restriction on sandals. Even sneakers will provide some protection to your foot if something gets dropped or you accidentally jam your foot against something. It of course depends on your job role but in general I could see it being a reasonable ask just for safety.