Japanese told to be 'cool'
2005-05-26 10:52
Tokyo - Japanese men, whose predilection for suits even in the steaming summer has been blamed for wasteful air conditioning, have been told to don casual wear in a "Cool Biz" campaign aimed at easing global warming.
The environment ministry wants the nation of the Kyoto Protocol to set air conditioning temperatures this summer no lower than 28°C - possibly a bit hot for a suit-attired salaryman.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda, a conservative dresser, bought three short-sleeve shirts on Wednesday at a government exhibition of traditional wear from the subtropical island of Okinawa.
Standing next to Environment Minister Yuriko Koike, who wore a red shirt with patterns of tropical flowers and birds, Hosoda tried out casual shirts by slipping them over his business shirt.
Starts June 1
The political stunt came a day after Hosoda, the government spokesperson and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's right-hand man, showed up at his regular press conference without his usual tie and jacket.
Hosoda said he was sporting an open-neck light-blue shirt "in a little trial" ahead of the June 1 start of the dress-down campaign.
"I have to review my clothes if this proves to be unpopular," he said with unusual coyness.
All ministers were to appear in casual wear at Koizumi's regular cabinet meeting on June 3.
Japan, which is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil, launched a similar campaign in 1979 when the Islamic Revolution in Iran caused havoc with global energy markets.
Cabinet ministers were told to set an example by coming to work in short-sleeve jackets and cowboy-style loose ties, style guidelines a few older politicians continue to practice out of personal comfort.
Japan has pledged to lead from the front in championing the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark treaty aimed at halting global warming that was reached in the ancient Japanese city.
Eco-friendly technology is the main theme of the ongoing World Exposition in central Aichi province.
With the "Cool Biz" campaign, Japan is trying to ensure that no one feels a fashion victim in the bid to save the environment.
The environment ministry has drawn up a set of "Cool Biz" tips in co-operation with a department store, complete with pictures of fashionably dressed-down men of assorted age brackets.
The first point mentioned is to choose shirts with firm-standing collars.
"If you press shirts at home, you can keep the collars in firm shape by spraying more starch onto them before ironing," it says.
"Point 2 --Please don't forget to pay heed to the undershirt. The choice of undershirt is important," it says, recommending a beige undershirt to go with a cool white shirt.
The tips also show how to carry a pocket handkerchief when dressing down.
"It's not scary if everybody does it together," she said.