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Coined from the words “cool” and “business,” the Japanese term “cool biz” stands for a movement to encourage the wearing light clothing in offices during the summer. The Japanese government launched cool biz in 2005, in an attempt to reduce CO2 emissions through curbing the use of air-conditioning. The government recommended forgoing traditional jackets and ties, which would allow office clerks to work in comfort at an office temperature of 28℃. Since then, cool biz has been put into practice in most governmental offices, running from the beginning of June to the end of September, and numerous private offices have followed the move.
In the summer of 2011, when power shortages were major concerns, the Ministry of the Environment called for “super cool biz,” in an effort to reduce use of air-conditioners even further, encouraging people to work in polo shirts, t-shirts, or other casual clothes. The government is also proposing a winter version of cool biz, asking people to work in warm clothing so that offices can be kept at temperatures of 20℃ or below.
Updated: 28 June, 2018
