Cleaning Is Built In

 

 

 

Fig. Man picking up trash in Komazawa Olympic Park, Setagaya, Tokyo

Fig. Komazawa Olympic Park, Setagaya, Tokyo

 

 

Fig. Setagaya, Tokyo

Source: google earth modified by the author.

One of my daily routines involves sitting on a bench in the main area of Komazawa Olympic Park, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. On a particular day, I noticed a man engaged in an unusual activity: he walked around a specific area, diligently picking up trash from the ground. Each time, he returned to his original position and deposited the trash into the nearby garbage can. Intrigued, I decided to strike up a conversation with him, despite my usual reluctance to engage with strangers.

I asked, 

“Do you belong to a volunteer group?”

“No,” 

he said. 

“I simply feel it’s natural to pick up trash and keep our surroundings clean.”

Since that encounter, I’ve encountered him and his wife almost daily, except during inclement weather. But this man is not alone in his commitment to tidiness. In my neighborhood, including the park, I’ve observed at least five other men doing the same—collecting litter, maintaining the environment. One of them, pictured below, battles esophageal cancer, yet he continues to contribute to the local community.

Fig. Another man picking up trash on the streets in my neighborhood

And then there’s the man weeding the park, quietly tending to the green spaces.

Fig. A man weeding in the park.

Seeing these nameless individuals so frequently, I can’t help but speculate that their actions play a part in Japan’s overall cleanliness. These unsung heroes, driven by a “built-in” sense of responsibility, contribute to the well-being of our community.

Many similar stories have been reported before, however, my observation adds another layer to this ongoing narrative.