Japanese Wear Polo Shirts to Work After Disaster

Wednesday 04th of May 2011 04:40:06 PM

Japanese Wear Polo Shirts to Work After Disaster

A Japanese summer is nothing to scoff at because the days are hot and the nights don’t cool down much. In past years, many of the Japanese would escape the heat for brief periods of time by travelling to cooler climates. At home they simply lived in air conditioning. Unfortunately for the 127 million people recovering from the damaged caused by the tsunami, air conditioning is going to be sparse.

Japan is experiencing an energy shortage after the earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi and other nuclear plants. Some plants were shut down as a safety precaution until the damage could be fully assessed. The loss of energy capacity is going to make a hot summer for millions of people already suffering.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is using thermal power plants to make up some of the capacity loss, but it won’t be enough. Tokyo and many other areas will have to endure rolling blackouts on top of the devastating losses already endured. There is a concern that the lack of power will create problems for businesses that are struggling to stay operational despite all the physical damage incurred.

It is interesting to note that formal Japan is going casual as one strategy for beating the coming heat. For example, the Ministry of the Environment is letting its employees wear cool sandals and polo shirts. Casual wear consisting of cotton pants and short sleeved polo shirts will be worn by the government employees but with the intent of encouraging private businesses to follow suit by allowing their employees the same clothing options. Japan advertises a government program each year called the “Cool Biz” program. Wearing cool clothing like tees and polo shirts is important to the campaign designed to convince businesses to turn up the thermostats on their air conditioners to use less energy.

Japan has a saying: Fall 7 times and get up 8. The resilience of the Japanese people is legendary and many began to conserve energy without being asked after the earthquake and tsunami. The national pride and dedication will carry them through these difficult times. With the loss of so many nuclear plants, Japan is undergoing a review of its energy policies. Alternative sources of stable energy are being investigated. In the meantime, all people can do is try to stay as cool as possible by wearing cotton summer clothing including polo shirts.