Travellers apparently tell their friends on returning from Japan, yet fail to mention it in travel guides or blogs… But one thing every Westerner notes is how ‘clean’ Japanese cities are! And they don’t even have trash barrels on the sidewalks…
A typical, overcrowded – but spotless – Japanese street:
And not a single sidewalk trash barrel in sight…
It’s true. But why? The answer is, the Japanese are every bit as conscientious about the appearance and other sensory aspects of their cities as they are commonly portrayed to be. And that’s a deep-rooted cultural phenomenon…
Survey says…
According to CNN Travel… “Earlier this year, the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO) con-ducted a survey of travellers leaving the country, and asked what ‘logistical challenges’ they faced during their trip.”
Twenty-two percent of tourists remarked on the difficulty finding an approved place or receptacle to dispose of hand trash. That seemingly pedestrian (pun intended) issue even ranked ahead of the lack of English speakers (15 percent), and overcrowding at popular attractions (13 percent).
And in that context, it’s worth noting that travellers who visit overcrowded destinations such as such as Venice, Italy, the Parthenon in Greece, and even ancient Machu Pichu in Peru put litter ahead of other issues that make them uncomfortable in those locations.
Why?
Travellers – especially younger ones – may unthinkingly stroll Japanese streets eating food they’ve picked up at stalls, convenience stores or from the prolifo9c vending machines in that environment. But the Japanese. themselves, consider it impolite to eat while walking. The universal custom among the ‘natives’ is to wait until they get home to sit down and eat whatever they’ve purchased while they were out. And the Japanese still favour a meal in a sit-down restaurant over a take-out snack, unlike the fast-growing majority in North America who are more likelt to grab-and-go than sit and nibble.
Cultural observers note that many Japanese folks habitually carry a small paper bag in which they can stow any trash they do generate until they get home and can dispose of it discretely, away from public view.
My take
Alas, we don’t prioritise neatness and cleanliness as highly as our Japanese cousins do.
And we sure could use a hefty dose of Japanese ‘street etiquette’ here in Canada. Even around sup-posedly sacrosanct landmarks such the Houses of Parliament. And historic gathering places such as Ottawa’s Byward Market.
Can somebody, perhaps a sociologist who specialises in littering culture, please tell me why, even were there are sup-posedly ample sidewalk barrels, they always seem to be overflowing? (See photo, top of page.) For now, at least, the answer – like the ‘surplus’ trash – is blowing in the wind…
~Maggie J.