Shorts to cut Tokyo's expensive electricity bill

TT

Published 11.07

 

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urges employees to choose cooler clothing this summer – shorts if possible. Archive photo. Photo: Hiro Komaeap/TT

Tokyo city management is urging employees to wear shorts this summer to make the city less dependent on air conditioning.

The war in the Middle East has raised energy costs and prompted Tokyo management to update its "Cool biz" strategy – a previous initiative to avoid using air conditioning as much.

In 2005, employees were urged to skip the jacket and tie to stay cool. This summer, early work mornings and shorts are the order of the day, according to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

“This summer, we encourage cool clothes that prioritize comfort,” she said, citing polo shirts, t-shirts, sneakers and – depending on the job – shorts.

Yuriko Koike referred to the fact that the war in the Middle East has made electricity more expensive.