Japan 'Cool Biz' campaign off to a chilly start

TOKYO, June 1 (Reuters) An unseasonal chill had some cabinet ministers shivering in their short-sleeved shirts as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched Japan's annual ''Cool Biz'' fashion campaign to save energy and fight global warming.

Japan began its ''Cool Biz'' push two years ago to get office workers to shed their stuffy suits and ties and keep thermostats at 28 degrees Celsius as a way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Known as a stylish dresser himself, Abe had instructed his cabinet members to wear 'kariyushi' summer wear from the southern island of Okinawa, similar to Hawaiian aloha shirts.

''It's nice and comfortable. But today it seems a bit chilly,'' Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa, clad in a blue short-sleeved shirt imprinted with tiny red cats and birds native to Okinawa, told reporters.

''I ordered a long-sleeved shirt but they were out of stock so I could only get short-sleeved,'' added Yanagisawa, who appeared pleased to have something to talk about other than a furore over mismanaged pensions that is dogging Abe's administration.

Administrative Reform Minister Yoshimi Watanabe welcomed the chance to substitute a collarless shirt for his jacket and tie.

''It's good for people like me with no neck,'' said the stocky politician.

Economics Minister Hiroko Ota, one of only two women in Abe's 17-member cabinet, was complimented by reporters on her striking red 'kariyushi' with a butterfly and floral print.

''Thank you. It's actually still a bit cold to wear this. But this building is hot, so it's nice,'' Ota told reporters.

The temperature today morning was around 4 degrees below the June 1 average of 21.8 centigrade, but was expected to warm up later, an official at the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

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