The Tokyo metropolitan government has urged its staff to wear shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers to reduce energy consumption and air-conditioning costs.
This shift in dress code represents a significant departure from Japan's traditionally formal corporate culture. By relaxing attire standards, the city aims to lower the carbon footprint, and financial burden of maintaining cool office temperatures during extreme heat.
The directive was announced on a Friday following a period of intense heat [1]. Temperatures had risen to approximately 35 °C (95 °F) [2] on the preceding Tuesday, prompting officials to seek immediate ways to curb electricity use.
Under the new "cool-biz" guidelines, government workers are encouraged to swap traditional suits for cooling outfits [1]. The policy specifically suggests the use of shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers to keep employees comfortable without relying solely on climate control systems [1].
Authorities said that the move is a response to a combination of heatwaves and rising electricity costs [3]. Some reports link these increasing energy prices to pressures within the global energy market, including conflicts in the Middle East [3].
Tokyo has long promoted "cool-biz" campaigns to combat global warming, but the explicit endorsement of shorts for government employees marks a more aggressive approach to energy conservation. The initiative seeks to balance worker comfort with the necessity of reducing the city's overall power demand during peak summer months [1].
“Tokyo officials are ditching suits for 'cool-biz' attire to reduce air-conditioning reliance.”
This policy shift indicates that extreme weather and energy volatility are beginning to override deep-seated cultural norms regarding professional attire in Japan. As heatwaves become more frequent and energy costs fluctuate due to geopolitical instability, the Tokyo government is prioritizing operational sustainability and worker health over traditional formal dress codes.
