Tokyo Office Workers Try Shorts to Save Energy

In a country famous for strict business dress codes, Tokyo government official Noboru Watanabe did something unusual: he showed up to work in shorts.

The 50-year-old admits he felt embarrassed at first. "But once you wear them, you realise just how comfortable they are," he told reporters on a sweltering 34°C day in the capital.

Watanabe is part of a new initiative from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike encouraging office workers to wear shorts, polo shirts, t-shirts and sneakers. The goal is cutting energy costs by reducing reliance on air conditioning, particularly as electricity prices have climbed due to the Middle East conflict.

The program upgrades "Cool Biz," a campaign Koike launched back in 2005 that already allowed workers to ditch ties and jackets in summer. Now the dress code relaxation goes even further, though employees can still choose formality based on their job responsibilities.

At least five brave men in Watanabe's office have made the switch. Takayuki Deguchi, a 30-year-old marketing employee still required to wear suits at his company, loves the idea. "I think being able to wear shorts that allow you to regulate your temperature when it's so hot is a very flexible approach," he said.

Not everyone agrees shorts belong in the workplace. Sachie Koike, a 52-year-old realtor, draws the line at removing ties and jackets. "I associate them with a day-off," she said, adding that hairy legs don't look professional.

The Ripple Effect

The timing couldn't be better. Japan experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025, with temperatures above 40°C becoming so common the meteorological agency created a new designation: "cruelly hot" days.

Tokyo government worker Takuya Ozawa, 38, notices the biggest difference during his commute home. "But it feels nice and cool in shorts," he said.

The campaign shows how small workplace changes can tackle both climate adaptation and energy conservation at once. As other Japanese companies watch the experiment, the humble shorts might just become Tokyo's newest business casual.