How are Japanese officials responding to extreme heat warnings?

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Tokyo officials are loosening dress codes, including wearing shorts, to cope with extreme heat and high energy costs.

On July 16 in Tokyo, with temperatures around 34°C and conditions described as hot and humid, at least five male metropolitan government officials at Noboru Watanabe’s office swapped suits for shorts. Watanabe, 50, said it was initially “embarrassing” to bare his legs at work, but that once he wore shorts they felt “comfortable,” even though he still wears a formal shirt when necessary because it can “feel hot.” The move reflects a broader change announced by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike this spring, tied to a “challenging outlook for electricity supply.”
Shorts are being used as part of an upgraded “Cool Biz” dress code
Koike’s initiative is presented as an upgraded version of “Cool Biz,” an energy-saving campaign for summer. It encourages bureaucrats to ditch ties and jackets, with allowances such as polo shirts, T-shirts and sneakers, and it notes that shorts may be worn depending on job responsibilities.
The shorts decision is linked to electricity supply challenges and reduced air-conditioning use
The loosening of the dress code is framed alongside Japanese offices cutting reliance on air conditioning due to high energy costs connected to the Middle East war. Koike said the spring announcement was made with “challenging outlook for electricity supply” in mind, which is the context for why the office attire rules were relaxed.
Officials cite comfort during a very hot period, including commuting in shorts
Watanabe described how he initially felt embarrassed in the office but found shorts more comfortable once he wore them, while also saying a formal shirt may still be used when necessary. Another Tokyo government worker, Takuya Ozawa, 38, said his commute home feels particularly hot in long trousers, but that it feels “nice and cool” in shorts.
Public debate continues alongside climate warnings and record heat
Japan’s hottest summer since records began in 1898 was cited for last year, and the Japan Meteorological Agency said extreme events have become common enough that it introduced an official designation in April for temperatures of 40°C and above, described as “cruelly hot” or “kokusho” days. While some workers welcomed the flexibility, online discussions also included concerns about whether shorts are appropriate workwear, with one realtor, Sachie Koike, saying she associates shorts with a day-off and that she does not think they look neat at work.

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How are Japanese officials responding to extreme heat warnings?

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