A major difference from American and Japan early schooling, is the focus on proper waste methods, and recycling. On May 23rd, we visited the Hikarigaoka incineration plant which is 1 of the 23 plants that takes manages waste in the city of Tokyo. Japan’s limited land area means they cannot rely on landfills for waste disposal; thus incineration is the main waste disposal method. We learned about the various steps of the process. For example, the removal of harmful substances from the fumes created while burning trash, and the ashes from incineration are repurposed for other uses such as incorporation into industrial materials. This application aligns with reuse aspect (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and illustrates the deeply-rooted commitment in Japanese society to reduce wasteful practices, and protect the environment.
Furthermore, the lack of trash cans in public spaces is an interesting concept because it can be attributed largely to cultural norms and the efficient, albeit, complex waste management methods (and other factors but these two are most relevant). First, Japanese culture and norms place a strong emphasis on cleanliness, and personal responsibility. So to throw away trash in public spaces is not encouraged because the government wants citizens to be mindful of waste. Everywhere we traveled, starting Tokyo and ending in Sendai, it was prevalent across the prefectures that the locals take care of public spaces to promote a clean environment. Next, the recycle and waste sorting practices are strict and highly organized so public trash cans would need to align with this system, so cities reduce the number of public trash cans to encourage citizens to sort waste in their homes.
I have never considered the implications of having trash cans so readily available in society. An example that we as students at The Ohio State University can relate to is Thompson Library. Every floor has multiple trash cans and one thing I thought after traveling to Japan is how wasteful this is and what does this imply about values on a societal level regarding trash/waste. Single use plastics is harmful to the environment, but the ease of these plastics mean they are used very frequently. Their prevalence creates an enormous amount of waste, and some countries have taken initiatives to reduce such waste. But a key difference is the mentality and cultural norms surrounding waste. The capitalistic nature of America contributes to constant consumption, which leads to overconsumption of goods and subsequently wasteful practices. Whereas in Japan, reducing waste and utilizing resources as needed are both emphasized during early education in schools. In sum, both countries are developed, but differences in values between United States and Japan are: convenience versus efficiency (many public trash cans, and less prevalent public trash cans), environmental awareness on a societal level, and community responsibility to take care of public spaces (individualistic, versus community based society). On a side note, I did not know Tokyo was the number one most populous city in the world at 37 million, followed by New Dehli India at 32 million (World Population Review). After I learned this fact, it is even more amazing how clean the streets are of the most populous city in the world! This is a picture of when we were walking in Shibuya, Tokyo and one I like the green spaces in the city and two, the streets are clean!