Japanese workers told beards not allowed at work

This could be going too far, but true.

To save on power, office employees in the northeastern city of Isesaki, Japan were told not to sport facial hair when reporting for work.

This movement is said to have been introduced in 2005 by the Japanese Ministry of Environment in an attempt to curve the country’s power consumption, thereby reducing Japan’s carbon emission.

Part of what Japan calls its “Cool Biz” campaign is also encouraging civil servants to forego wearing of jackets and ties during hot weather to save on energy.

Although some human rights lawyer, like Fumio Haruyama, has criticized the ban, saying it violates personal freedom still the move is being accepted and seems to be the going trend in Japan now.

A growing number of Japanese workers are banned from coming to work unshaven because the public supposedly find it unattractive.

In fact one major convenience store has already made it clear that it will not hire men with beards and would fire staff for growing facial hair.