Japanese commuters are being encouraged to work from home, albeit only on July 24. The nationwide "Telework Day" is an experiment aimed at reducing congestion as the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo draw nearer.
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Japan on Monday launched a scheme to promote working from home in an effort to ease traffic jams and soften a notoriously rigid work culture in the world's third-largest economy.
Almost 930 companies across the Asian nation are participating in "Telework Day" to be held on July 24 each year from now until the Olympics opening ceremony set for July 24, 2020.
"Once the Olympics start, it will be hard to get to work, so we're doing this as an experiment," said Takashi Kozu, president of the Ricoh Institute of Sustainability and Business.
But the upcoming Olympics are not the only reason for the experiment. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently introduced policies to shorten working hours and curb abuse of labor. Telework could be another way to reform working practices that some experts say are behind the times.
Boosting employees' motivation?
"The lifestyles of younger generations are changing, so firms should offer alternative work styles to maintain employees' incentive," Kozu added.
The plan is to rethink Japan's workaholic tradition where men routinely spend long hours in the office and little time with their families.
Telework has been slow to catch on across many industries in Japan, partly because firms have long put a lot of emphasis on having workers be physically present, often for more than 12 hours a day.
London introduced a similar measure during the 2012 Olympics, with 80 percent of businesses in the British capital participating.
New sports for Olympics in Tokyo
The International Olympic Committee has announced the new sports that will be part of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo . Some of the sports will make their debuts, while others will make their triumphant return.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP
Sports climbing
It is not just a gym sport anymore! Tokyo 2020 will feature the first sports climbing events. The sport will have five events for men and women, including bouldering, lead and speed. The events could take place in urban Tokyo, and 474 athletes will be able to compete.
Image: picture alliance/Kyodo/MAXPPP
Baseball, softball
The bats are back! The round ones at least. Baseball (men's) and softball (women's) were taken off the Olympic menu for the 2012 Olympic games in London, but both will make their return two Olympics later. Organizing committe chief Yoshiro Mori described baseball as "almost our national sport," but the potential lack of US-based stars has raised some concerns.
Image: picture alliance/AP Images/A. Behrman
Karate
Hiya! Karate will be on the Olympic roster, debuting in the same region the fighting style was created. The sport has been divided in the modern era, but are to unite, with men's and women's events for contact (kumite) and non-contact (kata) styles of karate.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP
Skateboarding
Snowboarding is already a popular event in the winter games, and now skateboarding will get its chance to shine. Tokyo 2020 will have two street and two park events and will feature 40 athletes (20 men, 20 women) for each.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/N.Bothma
Surfing
Tokyo 2020 will be hanging ten! The new event will take place in the sea and will feature 20 athletes for each genders. International federation president Fernando Aguerre called the inclusion "game-changing", saying: "We are already seeing increased popularity of the sport across the world and the Olympic Games will provide an incredible platform to further showcase surfing."
