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!
June 21st, 2005 at 03:01
I am a big fan of Koizumi, his policies and his hair. Economically, he seems to understand clearly the plight of the Japanese people and seems to be making the radical changes that Japan needs to jumpstart its economy. I’m not sure how likeable he is within Japan but everything I’ve read makes him seem like a pretty cool guy. And that head of hair… if only Canada’s head of state had hair like that!
June 21st, 2005 at 05:55
Well one thing that’s not cool is his visits to the Yasukuni shrine have attracted a lot of anti-Japan sentiments. I think these visits played a part in those demonstrations in China.
For those not in the know, there are Class A War Criminals enshrined at this temple. People feel that Japan is honoring its imperialist past when the Head of State is making annual visits to this temple.
Koizumi maintains these are private visits and that individuals have the right to choose to go or not to go to temples.
I think he’s an idiot for choosing to maintain a private event that sparks foreign anger AND a growing majority of domestic disdain.
At first I liked him too but as his policies unfold, I’m growing more fearful how this will turn out in the long run.
June 21st, 2005 at 06:17
I never realized that telling workers to ditch the suits would actually reduce air conditioning usage. Or at least, I never realized how plausible a reason it was, cooked up for some other purpose. I do agree that the air conditioning in Japan is excessive though. Buildings don’t have to be THAT cold.