Fukuda wants daylight saving time
He thinks it will save energy:
“Japan has become one of the few, rare countries that do not use daylight-saving time. I think calls are increasing for Japan to introduce such a system,” Fukuda told reporters.
Noting that the issue should also be considered from an environmental viewpoint, Fukuda said, “I think it is fine to introduce daylight-saving time.”
His remarks came after a nonpartisan group of lawmakers supporting the system’s introduction resumed activities last week for the first time in about three years. The members agreed to try to have the system introduced in 2010 and to make efforts to pass a bill during the current Diet session, which will end June 15.
In other countries, daylight saving time often means that workers can go home and spend more time with their families while the sun is still out, but some worry that its introduction to Japan could increase the already ridiculous amount of overtime work that goes on here. A new report from the Health Ministry has cited overtime work as one of the causes of an increase in work-related suicides in the last five years.
