Why Is Japan So Clean? | Street Interview

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From a Japanese point of view, it's not so much why Japan is clean, but why the rest of the world isn't clean.

The fact that the people being interviewed still don't think Japan is that much clean shows the high standards they hold themselves in.

I lived in kyoto as an expat for 3 years. There was an old man, 80 something, who lived near my house. Everyday, I saw him searching and collecting trash early morning and sweeping the place. Then out of curiosity I asked him why he did what he did even at such an old age, considering there were urban cleaning services to do the job? To this he replied very politely "It's my duty as well, to do service to the environment, as much as it is of the Urban cleaning services." That left me red-faced with embarrassment.

I could probably move into a Japanese toilet.They’re practically cleaner than my apartment

小学校、中学校、高校で掃除させられるのが結構でかいと思う。

We Indians can learn a lot from Japanese people regarding cleanliness & Discipline.

I lived and worked in Japan for a couple of months and the cleaning culture is everywhere, including the workplace. Every Thursday we would clean our workspaces from 2pm to 2:30pm, and everyone took part and was punctual: you start at 2pm sharp and you finish at 2:30pm sharp. I remember my task was basically sweep the floor and the counters, but my colleagues would take out the trash, mop the floor, vacuum, etc. Everyone had a specific task. I loved taking part of that! I wish my country would implement this culture but no way people would accept it: they would start complaining about work explotation or how they are too qualified to do this work. I am a qualified engineer, my colleagues were engineers too and our job was an engineering job, but we still cleaned our workspace every week as a group. I think the way people in Japan look at cleaning tasks is also important: cleaning is something everyone should do, whether you are a doctor or just finished high school. We all live in the same space.

Why is Japan so clean? Simple, because the people keep it clean. I've been to many countries, some cleaner than others, but in all cases it is what the people make of it.

Them saying their own country “isn’t THAT clean” is like idk even know a good analogy but it’s like you’re so used to it it’s nothing new ig

I do not understand the US thing to have shoes on inside. It's so strange. Here in Norway we take the shoes off inside. If you want something on your feet, we use slippers.

As Japanese people, this issue isn’t a challenge for us. However, if we attempt to introduce it into other cultures, I believe it will necessitate significant cultural change, inheritance, and education passed down through generations. Our culture differs from Western in numerous ways, both positive and negative. To address these issues, a "fundamental shift in values" may be necessary. This isn’t something forced upon anyone; rather, it’s up to the people in each country to decide whether they want it or not.

They haven’t seen nyc

USA, you don't have to aim so high, just start with using a bidet please.

Native Shintoism has a lot to do with it. Shinto engaged in intense purification practices through the centuries. The priests wear white (buddhist priests wear darker colors). In the old days, Japanese were prohibited from eating animal flesh as it was considered dirty. Also, the Japanese school system teaches children to clean their own classrooms at the end of everyday promoting a collective sense of responsibility for hygiene. Try doing that in America!

The thing that Americans and Europeans don't understand well is that they erroneously think the laws are so strict that littering will land you in prison or heavy fines, but it's just that most Japanese would feel embarrassed to litter and that's the "self-policing" aspect of the culture. To some, the embarrassment of being seen as a litterbug or "trashy" person is more anxiety inducing than imprisonment or a fine. This attitude would never work here in the US because people don't mind being trashy or embarrassed.

California - 0 US in general - 1 Europe in general - 1 Japan - 9+!

Ben shapiro tag threw me off lol

I really think it's worth doing a follow up video on this where you interview people who have lived both inside and outside Japan. That is, westerners who do (or have) lived in Japan as well as Japanese who have spent at least a few years in the west. As someone is is living a life between both these areas myself, I think it's important to realize that people naturally struggle to see things from the perspective of other cultures until they live in one. (Which I suppose is the point of this great channel.) If I were approached on this one I wouldn't even know where to start. I do want to say though that I think it's important to understand the kind of mentality that is instilled by the Japanese school system where everyone is responsible for cleaning and caring for their school. A blend of ownership and responsibility for your society from an early age is a beautiful thing. I feel this has been lost in the west.

Uhhhh, what are those tags for?