Cool Shirt! Cool Shirt!

Japan Prime Minister, Taro Aso, received a 'cool shirt' this week in an effort to make Japan a greener business environment this summer.

The shirt was given by Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, and is light, formal, and fashionable.

Aso and others hope the style will catch on because the shits are thin and have short sleeves. It is hoped that this trend of lighter business clothing in the summer will mean that business owners participating in the energy-friendly uniform change will not have to set air conditioning thermostats as low as usual to accommodate hot employees in heavy formal clothing.

The "Kariyushi" summer shirts are meant to be worn without ties, which may seem unusual in either business or politics, but Aso and other cabinet members are said to have worn the shirts in a meeting this week, foregoing business coats and other accessories.

Kariyushi shirts have sometimes been called the Okinawaian equivalent of a Hawaiian shirt.

From Mainichi.