Tokyo Office Workers Can Now Wear Shorts
Tokyo Office Workers Can Now Wear Shorts
Introduction
The Tokyo government made a new rule. Workers can now wear shorts to the office. This rule helps them use less air conditioning. Energy costs are high because of the war in the Middle East.
Main Body
The new rule is part of a plan called "Cool Biz." Japan started this plan in 2005. At first, workers did not wear neckties or jackets in summer. Some wore special shirts from Okinawa. Now, the rule is bigger. Workers can wear polo shirts, T-shirts, sneakers, and shorts. A Tokyo official said the war in the Middle East was one reason for the change. Last week, some male workers wore shorts and T-shirts. The leader of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, started the Cool Biz plan 20 years ago. She likes the new rule. She said, "We have a serious problem with electricity." She also wants people to work from home and start work earlier. Last year was the hottest summer in Japan since 1898. The weather agency now has a name for very hot days. They call them "kokusho" or "cruelly hot" days. These are days when the temperature is 40 degrees or more.
Conclusion
The Tokyo government made a new dress code for its workers. They can wear shorts to use less air conditioning. The rule is because of high energy costs from the Middle East war and a very hot summer.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Expands Cool Biz Initiative to Include Shorts Amid Energy Cost Concerns
Introduction
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has implemented an updated dress code policy permitting employees to wear shorts to the office, a measure intended to reduce reliance on air conditioning. This decision, announced on Friday, is partly motivated by rising energy costs associated with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Main Body
The revised dress code represents an expansion of the existing ''Cool Biz'' campaign, an energy-conservation program originally introduced by Japan''s Ministry of the Environment in 2005. The earlier version encouraged office workers to stop wearing neckties and jackets during summer months, with some adopting Okinawan-style collared shirts. The current update, which took effect this month, allows for a wider range of clothing, including polo shirts, T-shirts, sneakers, and, depending on job duties, shorts. An unnamed Tokyo official stated that the potential energy supply disruption resulting from the Middle Eastern conflict was ''one of the factors'' influencing the policy change. Local media footage from earlier this week showed some male government employees already wearing shorts and T-shirts. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who started the original Cool Biz campaign during her time as environmental minister two decades ago, has supported the new guidelines. In a statement to reporters earlier this month, Governor Koike cited ''a severe outlook for the supply and demand of electricity'' as a reason for encouraging comfortable attire. She further noted that the updated initiative also promotes increased teleworking and earlier start times for the workday. Separately, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the country experienced its hottest summer last year since record-keeping began in 1898. The agency recently introduced an official classification for days when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher, calling them ''kokusho'' or ''cruelly hot'' days.
Conclusion
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has formally adopted a more relaxed dress code for its employees, permitting shorts as part of a broader strategy to decrease air conditioning usage. This policy is a direct response to elevated energy costs linked to the Middle East war and follows a summer of record-high temperatures in Japan.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Expands Cool Biz Initiative to Include Shorts Amid Energy Cost Concerns
Introduction
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has implemented an updated dress code policy permitting employees to wear shorts to the office, a measure intended to reduce reliance on air conditioning. This decision, announced on Friday, is partly motivated by rising energy costs associated with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Main Body
The revised dress code represents an expansion of the existing ''Cool Biz'' campaign, an energy-conservation program originally introduced by Japan''s Ministry of the Environment in 2005. The earlier iteration encouraged office workers to forgo neckties and jackets during summer months, with some adopting Okinawan-style collared shirts. The current update, which took effect this month, allows for a broader range of attire, including polo shirts, T-shirts, sneakers, and, contingent on job responsibilities, shorts. An unnamed Tokyo official stated that the potential energy supply disruption resulting from the Middle Eastern conflict was ''one of the factors'' influencing the policy change. Local media footage from earlier this week showed some male government employees already wearing shorts and T-shirts. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who initiated the original Cool Biz campaign during her tenure as environmental minister two decades ago, has endorsed the new guidelines. In a statement to reporters earlier this month, Governor Koike cited ''a severe outlook for the supply and demand of electricity'' as a rationale for encouraging comfortable attire. She further noted that the updated initiative also promotes increased teleworking and earlier start times for the workday. Separately, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the country experienced its hottest summer last year since record-keeping began in 1898. The agency recently introduced an official classification for days when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher, designating them as ''kokusho'' or ''cruelly hot'' days.
Conclusion
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has formally adopted a more relaxed dress code for its employees, permitting shorts as part of a broader strategy to decrease air conditioning usage. This policy is a direct response to elevated energy costs linked to the Middle East war and follows a summer of record-high temperatures in Japan.