The government is following up its summer "Cool Biz" campaign with "Warm Biz" this winter to save energy and combat global warming, but bureaucrats and lawmakers already are having trouble finding the right clothes.

While all Diet lawmakers support the energy-saving campaign, overcoats and scarves are not allowed in either chamber -- politicians must wear suits.

"Under Diet rules, overcoats and others can be worn if the house speaker says it's OK," said Jiro Kawasaki, chairman of the Lower House's Rules and Administration Committee. "People suffering from colds are the exception."

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda, government building thermostats will be set at 19 between December and March. Private-sector companies will be asked to set their dials to 20.

The Diet is following suit, and the temperatures in both chambers will be lowered to 20 during the period.

But crew-neck sweaters won't be allowed because they will cover the men's ties. Ascots are also banned because they can be worn without button-down shirts.

Both items are considered damaging to the dignity of the Diet, under Diet rules.

Nobuko Iwaki, a Liberal Democratic Party member of the Lower House, isn't crazy about Warm Biz. She said Diet members need to dress well because they represent the people.

"I will keep wearing pink suits (symbolizing Japanese cherry trees) both in the summer and the winter," she said.

"In the end, we can't change our clothes (for Warm Biz), although during Cool Biz, all of us were excited over what clothes everyone would wear," said a young bureaucrat.

Caught between doing their bit to save energy and following the Diet's strict rules, lawmakers and bureaucrats are wondering what to wear to work.

One veteran lawmaker said, "In the summer, what we should have done was just remove our ties, but . . ."