Japan: Role model for cleanliness, but where are the trash cans?

Japan: Role model for cleanliness, but where are the trash cans?

Professor Chris McMorran teaches Japanology at the National University of Singapore, whereby his research focuses on important topics such as work, gender and marginalized communities. But when he travels to Japan with his students, a central question inevitably arises: Why are there no garbage cans here?

The challenge of waste disposal in Japan

This question is particularly common among western travelers who come to Japan every year every year. How can a country be so clean and organized if there are hardly any possibilities for waste disposal in public areas?

results of a survey among tourists

McMorran's students are not the only ones who deal with this question. At the beginning of this year, the Japan National Tourism organization (JNTO) carried out a survey among travelers who leave Japan. The most common problem that was mentioned? The lack of garbage cans. 22 percent of the tourists stated that the difficulty of finding a place to dispose of garbage was the biggest problem of their trip - even before the lack of English -language (15%) and overcrowding on popular sights (13%).

special etiquette in Japan

There are different approaches to solve the waste disposal problem, which, however, all affect the special nuances of the Japanese etiquette. "These (missing garbage cans) can be a nuisance, especially for budget -conscious young travelers," says McMorran. "Instead of eating in a restaurant, tend to buy an Onigiri in the Konbini (Convenience store) or to get an Instagram-compatible dessert at a stand. After eating, you are desperately looking for a place to dispose of your trash."

He realizes that locals also buy food and drinks from machines or Konbinis, but do not necessarily consume on the street. It is rude to eat during walking, right down to cities that have completely . Instead, it is more common to take these food -safe snacks home or to the office, eat there and dispose of the garbage. If you eat on the go, most people have a small bag with them in which they stow their trash until they come home.

However, garbage became a life-threatening problem for the deer: died after consuming plastic waste was left behind. In order to prevent the deer from eating out of the garbage buckets, they were removed from the parks in Nara in 1985. Signs in the whole city asked people not to throw away garbage because the food of waste can be harmful to the deer.

measures of the city of Nara

With the increase in travelers, however, it became clear that the signs were not sufficient to prevent people from leaving their trash lying. The city covered its politics and recently installed several garbage cans in the busiest tourist areas. The solar -powered trash cans are printed in English with the inscription "Save the deer".

follow in Tokyo and tourist hotspots

Tokios Schickes Shibuya district also has to deal with dealing with the trash of tourists. Local politicians have checked the notorious Halloween celebrations strictly and Japanese etiquette for travelers Compare with Canada and the USA or give tips where you can find a trash can if you really need one (many machines have a small trash can next to it).

Different perspectives of travelers

For some tourists, the lack of easy -to -find garbage cans is a charming idiosyncrasy of Japanese culture. For other visitors, on the other hand, it reduces the enjoyment of your trip. Ruben Versebes, a resident of Hong Kong, belongs to the latter group. He visited Japan for the first time in September 2024 and was frustrated about the difficulty of finding a place to dispose of waste.

"It is frustrating to walk through Tokyo all day, to collect over 20,000 steps and not find a single trash can in which I can throw the plastic packaging of my sandwich," he reports. "A few 7-elevers, family martial or Lawson stores didn't even have trash cans, so you have to walk around with these dirty packaging or bottles all day until you come back to the hotel. It is great that the streets are clean, but it is annoying to have to keep the garbage all day long."

insights from travel companies

Paul Christie, CEO of the travel company Walk Japan, emphasizes the values ​​of respect and community when he answers questions from customers about the lack of garbage cans. "Japanese appreciate cleanliness and work as a society to achieve this. The result is that your country is classified in terms of order and cleanliness," he explains.

"Ultimately, the Japanese communities decided to avoid the inconvenience and the costs of public trash can, and the Japanese consumers have taken responsibility to have a disposal plan if they buy something." Japan also makes great progress in recycling, which is another argument for the small garbage cans. McMorran, the professor of Japanese, explains that some municipalities have up to 20 different categories for recyclable waste, and even some locals find it difficult to sort and dispose of everything correctly.

a darker story

In addition to the topics of cleanliness and hygiene, there is a dark reason for the lack of garbage buckets in public areas. On March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult carried out Sarin gas attacks on several subway trains in Tokyo, in which 14 people died and at least 5,500 more injured.

The cult members brought plastic bags into the subway cars with sarin, dropped on the floor and stuck the bags with rain tips as they left the train. Several subway employees who tried to do the cleaning work and help the passengers belonged to the victims. This incident shocked Japan and changed the country forever.

One of the consequences was the removal of trash cans from subway and train stations. Although some are still present, they have transparent plastic bags that make it easier for the police to see the content, in contrast to the dark metal containers in the past. However, phenomena like this are not only limited to Japan. Many trash cans were removed from the stations of the London subway and the large nodes of the British capital after the Paramilitary Irish Republican Army had several bombings in the 1970s.

In addition, Japanese authorities observe exactly the terrorist events abroad. Two Japanese railway lines stopped to entertain the trash can after moving in Madrid in Madrid, For fear of Terrorism .

For travelers who are worried about how they can take their waste throughout the day, there is a creative solution. Furoshiki are square fabric pieces that are used to wrap objects. Almost every souvenir shop in Japan will lead some. You can serve as a carrying bag for the garbage at short notice until you find a trash can and can serve decorative purposes at home after your vacation.