Shedding Clothes: Road To Change
June 20, 2005
June 20th. With the end of June comes a few new habits. I no longer go to work with a coat and on the way home, I undo the top button and tie my tie a little looser than normal. Unfortunately I work for a company and live in a country which upholds fairly conservative dress codes. While I heave and nearly undress in the elevator ride back to my apartment (sorry for that mental image), I’m reminded of the Cool Biz campaign.
This campaign is a move by the government, namely Prime Minister Koizumi and members of the cabinet, to have government officials shed ties and jackets during the summer in an effort to reduce the use of air conditioning. It’s a small move towards compliance with the Kyoto Protocol I guess. Read more about this campaign at the Japan Times Online site. So far only one official has broken rank on this campaign.
The way I see it, it’s more of a small step towards losing the conservatism that has gripped this country since post-WW2. Department stores are offering summer gear for the salary man with short sleeve shirts, ties with this rubber cord holding it together, and a more stylish selection of clothes for office use. I’m hoping this will be a catalyst for change – change that should be embraced – by this growing population that reminds me of oh so many 50′s movies.
First, lose the ties and jackets, then instead of fearing the growing number of non-Japanese people in Japan, adapt and work together with them. Instead of holding on to so many customs and traditions to choke the frail minds of those learning the culture, simplify. One day, one day, our young Japanese work force will know the meaning of Casual Fridays. Until that day, take it off, salary men!
