Tokyo backs shorts for civil servants to cut AC energy costs
Tokyo's government is allowing civil servants to wear shorts to work in a bid to cut air conditioning use as high energy costs and extreme heat strain electricity supplies.
Tokyo government workers are discarding their formal suits in favour of shorts as the city attempts to reduce its reliance on air conditioning. The policy, introduced this spring by governor Yuriko Koike, targets high energy costs linked to the Middle East war and what she described as a "challenging outlook for electricity supply".
The dress code relaxation comes as Japan battles increasingly severe heat. 2025 was Japan’s hottest summer ever, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40C. The Japan Meteorological Agency has even created a new category, "kokusho" or "cruelly hot" days, to classify these extreme events driven by human-caused climate change. For European industries facing similar energy and climate pressures, Tokyo's approach offers a case study in how utilities and workforce management intersect.
The shorts mandate is an escalation of the "Cool Biz" energy-saving campaign, which Koike originally launched in 2005. The upgraded version now explicitly encourages bureaucrats to wear polo shirts, t-shirts, sneakers, and shorts. Fellow 38-year-old official Takuya Ozawa noted the practical benefits for his journey home in the heat.
On a 34C day in the capital, at least five men in one metropolitan office took up the initiative. Noboru Watanabe, a 50-year-old official, admitted he initially found baring his legs embarrassing. "But once you wear them, you realise just how comfortable they are," he said, though he noted his formal shirt still "feels hot".
The shift has exposed a cultural divide in Japan's corporate sector, where most workers are still forced to wear suits. While 30-year-old private sector employee Takayuki Deguchi praised the initiative, others remain unconvinced. "I think being able to wear shorts that allow you to regulate your temperature when it's so hot is a very flexible approach," Deguchi said.
Realtor Sachie Koike, 52, accepts men losing their jackets and ties but draws the line at shorter garments. "I associate them with a day-off," she said. "I just don't think hairy legs look very neat."
