Sometime next year, expect to see colorful kimono-clad commuters winding their way through the morning rush hour in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki Station, the main hub for government workers.
Some may wonder if they are heading to some kind of ceremony, but they will actually be heading to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for work.
The government is trying to stem the decline in Japan's traditional clothing culture, and for a start, METI is expected to declare a day during which ministry staff will be encouraged to wear the traditional garments.