The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has officially encouraged its employees to wear shorts and T-shirts to the office. The measure is the evolution of the “Tokyo cool biz” initiative launched in 2005 by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment and came into force this week. The aim is to alleviate the effects of the global energy crisis triggered by the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
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Starting from Thursday 23 April, city government offices saw a radical change in the “dress code”: officials and employees abandoned jackets and ties to adopt lighter clothing, including short trousers, until now considered taboo in institutional environments. The measure aims to drastically reduce the use of air conditioning in public buildings, allowing the temperature of thermostats to be raised without compromising staff productivity.
A 41-year-old Environment Bureau official told local media that he felt “more efficient” and comfortable, despite his initial hesitation in adopting such informal attire.
Japanese oil tied to the Strait of Hormuz
Tokyo’s decision is not an isolated one. In fact, Japan imports around 90 percent of its oil from the Middle East and most of the supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is still blocked. The Japanese government has already started drawing on strategic reserves to avoid blackouts, while hydrocarbon costs continue to rise: thus energy saving becomes a matter of national security.
The evolution of 2005’s “Cool Biz”.
The “Cool Biz” campaign, originally launched by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment in 2005, suggested ditching the tie and jacket. Today, the authorities suggest uncovering as much as possible as well as resorting to smart working and bringing forward work shifts to the early hours of the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.
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The Tokyo governor’s invitation is also addressed to the private sector, encouraging companies to follow the public economic example. “It is a question of adaptation to the climate and energy reality we are experiencing”, explain the city institutions. And summer is coming.