Participants Up 5-Fold in Hokkaido Daylight-Saving Time Program

The number of participants in the third pilot test of daylight-saving time in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture in Japan, has risen to 30,000, a five-fold increase since 2004 when the program started. For 52 days, from June 21 to August 1, 2006, participants set their clocks ahead by one hour for the opening and closing of business hours. The Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry had invited participants all over Hokkaido to join the trial.

Located at the northernmost latitudes in Japan, Hokkaido's summer days are about an hour longer day than in Osaka and Tokyo. To take advantage of these conditions, the Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched a three-year pilot test of daylight-saving time in Hokkaido in 2004. That year, the Sapporo municipal government participated in the program, with 2,140 employees starting work an hour earlier than usual.

After the second trial, in 2005, the Sapporo Municipal Government conducted a survey on daylight-saving time, including its effects and influence on businesses and lifestyles, targeting 1,510 participants. Thirty-six percent of respondents were in favor of introducing daylight-saving time in Hokkaido, and an additional 31 percent were in favor of applying it nationwide, meaning that about two-thirds of the respondents had positive views on the idea. Asked about their reasons, most respondents said that they would "use sunshine hours efficiently and have more choice of activities," followed by responses that the change would "contribute to energy saving to some extent," and they would "spend more time with family."

Meanwhile, 23 percent of the respondents were opposed to the introduction of daylight-saving time, with 62 percent of them complaining about lack of sleep or health problems. As for working the number of hours, 62 percent said they noticed no change, while 28 percent answered they had to work longer. As reasons for longer working hours, two thirds replied they had difficulties with their business dealings or communications, and 30 percent of these respondents opposed the adoption of daylight-saving time. Based on the data gained during the past three years, the Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is going to propose the full-scale introduction of daylight-saving time locally in Hokkaido.

http://www.city.sapporo.jp/city/english/
http://www.sapporo-cci.or.jp/worldbusiness/

Posted: 2006/10/06 01:45:48 PM
Japanese version