Suitless in Tokyo

I was watching "Sleepless in Seattle" during the flight from Singapore to Tokyo. Interesting film, but many times more interesting was the experience of suit-less ness in a normal working day in the Tokyo business district.

"Everyone needs to wear suit and tie everyday, only Fridays are casuals , that means you can leave tie and suit and can wear a short sleeve shirt to work on a Friday " informed the client we are working for as an introduction to the office dress code. So that is the casual Friday in Japan, you can still not wear a jeans and a t-shirt on a Friday for work.

Next day I and my roommate woke up in the morning knowing that it was Friday, so we got ready and put on the "casuals", that is , I put on half sleeve ( but otherwise quite formal) shirt, trouser, formal shoes : still looking quite formal. But I did not wear any suit or tie. On the way to the station we kept observing people to see how they dress on a Friday , most were dressed in suit only. "Bad" we agreed, these people should try to be a bit more relaxed sometimes.

In the office, we did not see anybody without a suit, so we were feeling a little out of place. Finally when we entered our work place, our colleagues greeted us with some astonishment."In casuals on a Thursday? "

The rest of the day was a story of feeling like I was not wearing enough clothes. Its like coming to office in shorts and vests in India.

I am now planning to compensate by going in full suit on the next day, which happens to be a real Friday.