Tokyo expands Cool Biz policy, urging office workers to wear shorts to cut air‑conditioner use

Tokyo’s metropolitan government has broadened its long‑running “Cool Biz” energy‑saving campaign. Governor Yuriko Koike announced that, in addition to polo shirts, t‑shirts and sneakers, public‑sector employees may now wear shorts at work. The move targets reduced reliance on air‑conditioning as temperatures climb toward 34‑35 °C and electricity costs rise amid heightened energy‑supply pressure from Middle‑East tensions.

Officials say the relaxed dress code is intended to keep workers comfortable during the country’s hottest summer on record in 2025, when temperatures regularly exceeded 40 °C. The Japanese Meteorological Agency has even introduced a new category for such extreme‑heat days. Early adopters like 50‑year‑old civil servant Noboru Watanabe admitted feeling embarrassed at first, but later described the shorts as “very comfortable.”

Public reaction is mixed. Some employees, such as marketing staffer Takayuki Deguchi, welcome the flexibility, while others, including real‑estate agent Sachie Koike, argue that shorts belong to leisure attire and undermine professional appearance. The policy reflects a broader shift in Japanese office culture toward adapting to more frequent heatwaves while seeking to curb electricity consumption.