Three-quarters of Japanese businesses "oppose a proposal to adopt daylight savings time" ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a poll showed on Friday, "citing the time and effort to adjust computer systems as well as disruptions to public life," according to Tetsushi Kajimoto of REUTERS. Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics "floated the idea after scorching heat this summer killed at least 120 people," raising concerns about the safety of athletes, "particularly marathon runners." The Games will be held in late July and early August, "Japan's hottest, most humid months." The survey, conducted from Aug. 29-Sept. 10, found 74% of companies are "against the idea." A manager at a metal products manufacturer wrote, "There are so many disadvantages. Events such as the marathon should be held at night. The state completely lacks a sense of the cost." Asked about the survey results, Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya said that the organizers "understood that the government was considering daylights savings time as part of Japan's environmental policy and efforts to achieve a low carbon society" (REUTERS, 9/13).
