The commuter color scheme of Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district underwent a dramatic transformation Wednesday as thousands of bureaucrats took off their dark gray jackets as recommended by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ahead of the hot, humid summer.
The officials traded their jackets and neckties for white or other lightly colored dress shirts, a style that has been coined "Cool Biz" in the government's campaign to fight global warming.
The new dress code, which is not mandatory, is being pushed so thermostats in government offices can be set at 28 degrees, even in summer. This will reduce electricity use and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions to meet Japan's obligations for the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.