Japan is renowned for its cleanliness, discipline, and social responsibility. Visitors often wonder how they maintain such order, especially given the scarcity of public trash cans. Tourists from around the world are often taken aback, having to carry their food and drink packaging for miles.
However, for the Japanese, this is simply a matter of culture and respect for shared spaces. A recent survey by the Japan National Tourism Organization revealed that the lack of trash cans is a major challenge for tourists, with 22% citing it as a primary concern during their travels.
The solution for the Japanese is straightforward: take your trash home. If they eat or drink something outside, they put the waste in a bag and take it with them. Many also use the traditional furoshiki, a piece of cloth used to wrap items.
Eating while walking in the street is considered impolite, so meals are generally consumed at home, work, or in restaurants, where there are facilities to dispose of waste. Even children in Japan are involved in maintaining cleanliness. Schools have monthly cleaning activities, and in many neighborhoods, residents gather to clean their areas together. Cleaning the streets is not just the job of municipal services, but the responsibility of everyone.
This system is not without its challenges. The city of Nara, known for its wild deer roaming the streets, has struggled for years with the waste left by tourists. Several deer died after eating plastic bags, prompting the city to install smart trash cans in the busiest areas with a clear message: "Save the deer."
Could this work elsewhere? Could other societies adopt similar practices to foster a greater sense of responsibility towards public spaces? The Japanese model emphasizes the importance of individual actions in maintaining a clean and orderly environment.
Perhaps it's time to look to the Japanese, not only for order, but also for responsibility towards the space we all share. Could schools organize a cleaning day, neighbors gather and tidy up their neighborhood, and children be taught not to leave trash for others to pick up?
We may not immediately reach the Japanese level, but every small step—carrying our trash with us, not throwing paper next to the trash can, not leaving bottles in nature—can bring us closer to a society where order is a matter of pride, not punishment.