(excerpt from the book)
… It took a while to paw through all of the shirts on display at the AEON Style clothier but I finally settled on one that I knew was the perfect shirt as soon as I saw it. I’ve never spent that much on a shirt before but I’d never have another opportunity to buy that one. If I didn’t snatch it up someone else would get it. Mine, mine, mine!
…
The shirts actually became popular after 1970 when hotel workers began wearing them in an attempt to attract tourists to Okinawa. Over time tour guides and other travel-oriented workers also began wearing them on the job. Now, many central Okinawan government workers wear these shirts during office hours having been prompted to do so in 2005 as part of a “Cool Biz” campaign. Each head of state wore one during the 26th G8 summit held in Okinawa in 2000. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi wore one at the 2003 Japan Pacific Islands Summit that convened on Okinawa. …
AloJapan.com