The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is encouraging employees to wear shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers to work this summer to reduce air-conditioning use amidst rising energy costs. The initiative, an extension of the long-running “Cool Biz” campaign, seeks to lower electricity consumption as the capital faces increasingly intense summer heatwaves.
Expansion of the ‘Cool Biz’ Campaign
The push for more casual office attire is an upgraded version of the “Cool Biz” energy-saving program, which was first launched in 2005 by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike during her time as environment minister. While the original iteration focused on ditching jackets and ties, the 2026 update explicitly permits polo shirts, T-shirts, and sneakers.
Employee Reception and Cultural Shifts
For many government workers, the transition from traditional suits to shorts has been a practical, if slightly awkward, adjustment. However, he noted that the comfort of the attire eventually outweighed his initial hesitation.
“But once you wear them, you realise just how comfortable they are,” he said. He wears a formal shirt when necessary, but admitted it “feels hot.”
Other employees, such as 38-year-old Takuya Ozawa, noted that shorts provide significant relief during the commute home, where long trousers often prove stifling in the humid Tokyo climate. The initiative has even generated interest from workers in the private sector. Takayuki Deguchi, a 30-year-old marketing employee whose company still mandates formal suits, expressed admiration for the move, calling it a very flexible approach
to temperature regulation.
Public Debate on Professionalism
Despite the government’s endorsement, the sight of bureaucrats in shorts has not won over every observer. The initiative has sparked online discussions regarding the boundaries of appropriate workplace attire in a country where the suit-and-tie standard remains deeply ingrained.
Sachie Koike, a 52-year-old realtor, voiced opposition to the trend, maintaining that while removing a tie or jacket is acceptable in the heat, shorts cross a professional line. She told reporters that she associates shorts with a day-off
and stated, I just don’t think hairy legs look very neat
in a professional setting. This divide highlights the tension between Japan’s traditional corporate expectations and the increasingly urgent need to adapt to the realities of climate change, which is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense throughout the region.
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