Page 48 - CIJ April 2025- Digital Edition

SANITATION

Trash, Terror & Tourists:

Japan’s Journey with Waste Management

For decades, Japanese streets told a silent story — one without trash bins. But as tourists now pour into
shrines, stations, and deer parks, the Land of the Rising Sun is rethinking its clean-city code. What began
as a response to terror has turned into a cultural test of hospitality versus habit. A report.

he increasing footfall of disposal habits. People carried the collection by house owners without
visitors is leading to a rethink trash or waste they generated back exception. Violators were warned,
of policies aimed at providing home for segregation and disposal. and repeat offenders were shamed
tourists with the facilities they The anticipated increase in by publishing their names in public
Texpect from any host — even littering during transit — due to forums.
one obsessed with trash sorting and the absence of garbage cans in
litter management at home. handy locations — did not happen. Sarin Gas Terror
This rethink stems from a horrific Hygiene as a way of public and In 1995, sarin gas attacks by
domestic incident on March 20, private life was taught in schools. a group called Aum Shinrikyo
1995, in Tokyo’s subway system, Students were made to participate (meaning Supreme Truth)
and the subsequent decisions to in a daily 15-minute cleaning of became the trigger for change.
ensure that such terror activity classrooms before studies began, to This doomsday cult planned and
never happens again. Japanese instil discipline from a young age. executed coordinated chemical
society interpreted and adapted In other areas, civic authorities weapon attacks on different lines
to the crime situation in a unique brought in voluntary measures to in the Tokyo subways during rush
manner. Public places and public enforce a less-waste lifestyle. Apart hour. There were 14 casualties
utilities were made garbage- from the absence of garbage bins and over 5,000 commuters were
can free after 1995, to avoid the at high-traffic transport venues, injured following exposure to
possibility of anti-social elements restrooms for travellers and other the poison, inhaled in gas form.
targeting people. public utilities also lacked paper Members of the group placed sarin
gas in pierced bags and left them
For decades after that, Japanese towels and ashtrays. Users carried in subway carriages. The incident
cities witnessed the absence of their own towels and mini ashtrays threw the Tokyo subway system
bins in public places, even as the to avoid cigarette butts littering into a state of chaos and panic. The
volume of passengers and citizens public spaces. Garbage segregation victims remain traumatised to this
using these spaces increased. The rules were in force for different day. Japan had never before faced
Japanese developed unique waste types of trash, sorted and kept for this form of domestic terrorism.

48 APRIL 2025•Clean India Journal•www.cleanindiajournal.com