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Japan News

Tokyo Residents Urged To Wear Turtlenecks To Save on Energy Bills 61

Posted by msmash from the not-the-onion dept.
The governor of Tokyo has urged people to wear a turtleneck this winter to stay warm and reduce energy consumption. Yuriko Koike said wearing turtleneck jumpers could help reduce energy bills. From a report: "Warming the neck has a thermal effect. I'm wearing a turtleneck myself and wearing a scarf also keeps you warm. This will save electricity," Yuriko Koike told reporters on Friday. "This is one of the tools to get through the harsh winter energy climate together." She said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was "taking a lead in wearing turtlenecks."

Japan has long conducted an annual "cool biz" campaign, in which a casual dress code is encouraged in offices to save energy during the country's sweltering summers. The winter version is labelled, appropriately enough, "warm biz." Japan -- which is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050 -- has faced a squeeze on its energy supply like many countries since Russia's February invasion of Ukraine.
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Tokyo Residents Urged To Wear Turtlenecks To Save on Energy Bills More

Tokyo Residents Urged To Wear Turtlenecks To Save on Energy Bills

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  • Nerds (Score:3)

    by Lije Baley ( 88936 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @02:43PM (#63071830)

    They need to wear an ushanka, or as we used to call them on the farm (ironically, in the U.S., during the cold war), an "ear-flap cap".

    • Reminds me of when Obama encouraged people to inflate their automobile tires to help save on gas.

      Good advice, but not what people want to hear.

    • It's not actually that cold in Tokyo, even in the winter.

      • Incomplete advice (Score:4, Interesting)

        by spinitch ( 1033676 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @05:33PM (#63072364)
        A scarf can be removed to reduce sweating. Tokyo tend to walk a fair amount expending energy. A fashionable place but heavy wool, cashmere is ok if stationary but can lead to sweat if moving around and in n out of places with varying temps. Layers better so can adapt. If stuck at home under a kotatsu then perhaps a turtle neck practical. Koike san likes to wear turtle necks and they are of course warm but be sensible about advice. She does not live like most residents. Many Officeâ(TM)s cannot control heat precisely the, temperature will fluctuate a few degrees during day as control systems adapt. Many older homes still rely on kerosene. It rarely dips below freezing in Tokyo. Down is light easy to transport so good middle layer. Most know all this. She is out of touch.

      • Spoken like a true native from A. Minnesota b. Toronto c. Aleutian Islands d. Cowboy Nealâ(TM)s basement

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by suss ( 158993 )

        Well, yeah... It's on the same latitude as Tunisia, Cyprus, Iraq and the southern Tennessee border.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Ocker3 ( 1232550 )
      Perhaps Ushankas with Ukranian flags would be a good money spinner for the Ukrainian Government? Considering the blackouts would limit domestic production for export, they could be made under license so profits help the Ukrainian Government. Could be quite the fashionable money-spinner and cheekily steal the identity of the style from the Russians :D

  • God, it’s like, it’s like a boa constrictor, you know? [clutches at fabric and pulls at neckline] I feel like I’m wearing Death, you know? [rubs the fabric on his face and pulls the neckline up around his chin] It’s like I’m being raped by a Wookiee! [pulls the neckline completely over his head and seizes backwards directly into the waiter before staggering forward, exposing his head again, and falling flat on his back] God, it’s likeit’s like it’s merging with my skin!

    https://snltranscripts.jt.org/... [jt.org]

    • I can't take it, turtlenecks make me nauseous. That feeling of being strangled is a total non-starter for me. Weird, because I had some when I was a kid and they were fine, and nobody ever choked me out or anything.

    • If it's good enough for Elizabeth Holmes, then it's good enough for the poor people too. After all, she has amazingly good sense, like getting pregnant while waiting for sentencing.

  • Sex in the workplace (Score:5, Funny)

    by algaeman ( 600564 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @02:59PM (#63071882)
    Encouraging office sex would reduce heating costs and bolster Japan's falling population levels. It's patriotic!

  • Grampa (Score:3)

    by muh_freeze_peach ( 9622152 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @03:03PM (#63071902)
    You - "Grampa it's cold in here, can I turn up the heat?"

    Grampa - "No! Put on a sweatshirt!"

    • Re:Grampa (Score:5, Funny)

      by gosso920 ( 6330142 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @04:29PM (#63072204)
      Mother in-law: "Put a sweater on! I'm cold!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jbengt ( 874751 )
      Having dealt with senior citizen housing, it;'s usualyl the opposite.
      Grampa: It's cold in here, turn the fan off.
      You: The fan is the heater supplying warm air, and the thermostat is set at 80F!

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by mjwx ( 966435 )

        Having dealt with senior citizen housing, it;'s usualyl the opposite.
        Grampa: It's cold in here, turn the fan off.
        You: The fan is the heater supplying warm air, and the thermostat is set at 80F!

        I suspect 80C would still be too cold for the old biddies at the office. Why I'm glad I'm working from home.

  • So many Sterling Archer videos to choose from! (Score:3)

    by Babel-17 ( 1087541 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @03:28PM (#63072006)

    I could never decide, but any guy who has a closet full of turtlenecks, all in shades of black, is in a class among himself, lol.

  • Well just dont wear a backpack.

    • Or as Mitch Hedberg said it:

      "Wearing a turtleneck is like being strangled by a really weak guy, all day. Wearing a backpack and a turtleneck is like a weak midget trying to bring you down"

      RIP, funny man. That midget finally brought you down.

  • Thin or thick (Score:3)

    by q_e_t ( 5104099 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @03:31PM (#63072024)
    I have one turtleneck but it's thin wool and not very warm. Today I am wearing a much more open pullover that's a chunky knit and I'm quite toasty.

  • Nope (Score:3, Insightful)

    by iggymanz ( 596061 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @04:15PM (#63072154)

    I'll just pay more, I'm not working crazy IT hours to live like a pauper in a shack.

  • If your feet are cold, put on a hat.

  • History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by MacMann ( 7518492 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2022 @04:44PM (#63072238)

    We saw a series of energy shortages in the 1970s, and with that came political leaders telling citizens to lower their thermostats and dress warmly. It is unlikely to see history repeat exactly but we should see some parallels. I expect the people responsible for the energy shortage to be voted out of power, and new leaders bringing lower energy prices and economic prosperity. This will come with more nuclear power plants being built, more exploration of fossil fuels, and likely more investment in hydro and geothermal power projects. With energy prices dropping we should see a boom in agricultural output, a renewed interest in space exploration, and quite possibly the rise of at least one rival nation that poses a military and/or economic threat to help drive the economic boom time.

    The world has been "coasting" on a large number of nuclear power plants built about 50 years ago and they are reaching the end of their operational life. They are becoming more expensive to operate and could pose a safety hazard if pushed into operation much longer. Because we saw hundreds of nuclear power reactors built in something like 20 or 30 years we will have to do that again, and then some, to keep the global economy going. We might not build gigawatt sized reactors this time, but instead smaller reactors that can be more easily mass produced. That means to get the same electrical (and economic) output we'd have to build many more of them. Because our economy is much larger now we'd have to build more nuclear power plants. Because there is much greater concern about air and water pollution now than then this means more nuclear power plants. This will likely mean reactors built in the thousands this time than the hundreds like the first sprint for more nuclear power plants.

    The usual argument against nuclear power is that nuclear power plants take too long to build and cost too much. That is an artifact of losing experience in building nuclear power plants. As we gain experience in building nuclear power plants the cost and time to build will come down. I believe that many opposing nuclear power know this, they don't want anyone to start building nuclear power plants because then their favored energy sources will look more expensive by comparison over time.

    • I believe that many opposing nuclear power know this, they don't want anyone to start building nuclear power plants because then their favored energy sources will look more expensive by comparison over time.

      In addition, some of those with favored energy sources are politically opposed to the defense industry which, in the US, has experience with nuclear power already ( US Navy and associated defense contractors ).

    • We saw a series of energy shortages in the 1970s, and with that came political leaders telling citizens to lower their thermostats and dress warmly. It is unlikely to see history repeat exactly but we should see some parallels. I expect the people responsible for the energy shortage to be voted out of power

      You mean Putin is going to be voted out?

      Or do you mean whomever happens to be currently elected will be voted out even though they have almost nothing to do with the energy shortages.

      and new leaders bringing lower energy prices and economic prosperity. This will come with more nuclear power plants being built, more exploration of fossil fuels, and likely more investment in hydro and geothermal power projects.

      I'm all in favour of new Nuclear plants but they take years to build, I don't imagine hydro is any faster.

      Even new fossil fuel exploration I'd expect to have a lag of several years.

      Coupled with the cyclical nature of elections this means the politicians who start the project [scitation.org] not only don't reap the benefits, but their rivals mi

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Couldn't resist, eh?

      Japan's nuclear industry basically shut down after Fukushima. While some of it has come back online, a lot of problems were found that needed to be addressed at considerable expense. Previously unknown fault lines were a common one. Those plants were typically only rated for a magnitude 7.5 quake, well below what was experienced on March 11th 2011.

      What became clear is that Japan isn't a good place for nuclear power. Due to the geography there aren't many places it can be located, and all

  • You can take it off when it is not so cold. I hate turtlenecks - I find them suffocating. Maybe that's why I did not end up like Steve Jobs. Or like Elizabeth Holmes.

  • For one reason or another, I am very sensitive arround the neck and Adam's Apple.

    Even while I scuba dive, when thermal management is even more critical than on air, my semi-dry neoprene suit has a small zipper on the neck to relive the preassure there. I am certain that in a woreld with 8Milliard humans, I am not the only onne with a sensitive neck.

    So, scarf it is for me... If I needed one. You see, I live in Caracas, in winter the minimum is 10C, and maximum is 18C, so no scarf ;-)

  • "Put on a sweater" didn't work out so well for Carter. Of course, there was the Iranian hostage crisis as well but we didn't have a corrupt media running interference like we do today.

    • Yes, and US Presidents learned the lesson too well, and have been playing hot potato (or "buy now pay later") ever since. And here [wikipedia.org] is my proof.

  • As someone who rides trains and busses in Tokyo on a daily basis, I reckon we could save boat loads of energy if they'd just turn off the insane levels of heating they use in train stations and on trains and busses. It's entirely nonsensical. I'm sick and tired of having to strip down to a t-shirt before getting on a bus or a train so that I don't drown in a pool of my own sweat.

  • This place is losing it's luster...

  • Just wear a high collar that is kept buttoned.

    Maybe something like this:

    https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1a/2... [pinimg.com]

    or perhaps this

    https://www.nationalaffairs.co... [nationalaffairs.com]

    or if that's too uncomfortable, this

    https://www.realmenrealstyle.c... [realmenrealstyle.com]

  • Me I like turtlenecks, they are comfy, warm and stylish. I don't understand what all the hate is about. Sure the populace are allowed to ridicule anyone that thinks he can tell other what to wear, but the article of clothing is not to blame.

  • "We shut down a bunch of our major nuclear energy facilities in an unwarranted panic based on a single issue from a 100-year-event which didn't kill anyone. Wait, where'd all our electricity go? Why can't we run AC or heating now?"

    I friggin' love Japan, the people, the culture... but the government utterly blows. They are never shy about doing the complete wrong thing and going public with non-solutions and no clue what they're talking about.

    See: "Our birth rate and population is declining and aging,

  • How many turtlenecks does it take to equal one steel mill?

  • "You lose a lot of heat in the neck...." https://youtu.be/Q47Uq96lILA [youtu.be]

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