Japan considers re-introducing daylight savings time – with challenges

After more than 60 years, the Japanese authorities are considering the introduction of daylight saving time during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as a counter measure for the extremely high temperatures which the country has experienced this summer.

The plan now under consideration is to move the clock two hours forward during the Olympic events in 2020.

But some say that the saving time switch could cause disruptions, and that work to adjust computer systems (for airlines, financial trading systems, international links, etc) in less than two years would be a challenge. In addition, peer pressure about leaving work during daylight would keep workers at the job even longer than today. Then there is the isssue of whether this change would be once off or a permanent change.