This summer in Tokyo

A summer in Tokyo is hot and humid. Every summer is the same. It will be so this year as it was last year and so it will be next year. No one enjoys it but this part of life here. It is simply a very inconvenient part of life in Tokyo.

But this year is especially difficult due to the power saving restrictions imposed by the damage to the Fukushima reactor plants and the shutdown of the Hamaoka plants since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. In short, we have less energy supply in eastern Japan than last year and the summer is the maximum demand season due to the needs of air conditioning. In anticipation of summer, power utilities imposed a 15% reduction on businesses for the summer season. Many offices and buildings have turned off unnecessary lighting and air conditioning is set as high as 28C.

I decided this year I would stop complaining about the heat. Sure, it is hot and uncomfortable but at least I have a place to come home, a job and family. I am doing my best to remain cool and comfortable without complaints. All but the most conservative of companies in Japan have relaxed their dress codes for the summer months. It is less than ten years since everyone continued to wear suits and ties here throughout the summer. This year we are wearing "super cool biz" wear and even aloha shirts. It really does make a difference (including laundry and dry cleaning expenses).

Smile, wipe away the sweat and get on with life.