I would not have surprised and shocked, had I been noticed these garbages thrown carelessly on a roadside in any other country except Japan. But to my surprise this is in Japan and when my friend asked about my opinion on this, I was without words, but agreed silently, 'ya, it happens in Japan too, but unfortunate'.
I was walking from Yodobashi camera building in Akihabara towards Laox today evening with my friend. First we noticed this garbage and passed by, but returned back and had a look at this and wondered such irresponsible acts happens in Japan ! We thought of taking these snaps in order to make public more aware of what is happening in our own Tokyo.
When it comes to hygiene, I was full of admiration with the Japanese authorities and Japanese people for their high level of social awareness and discipline to practice public safe health behaviors. Public garbage disposal control comes under the jurisdiction of prefecture governments.
Infact I used to argue with my friends about the public awareness of garbage disposal and public hygienic practices being adopted and practiced by Japanese society. J. Philippe Rushton, in his famous k-group transition theory grouped Japanese society as one of the most civilized human race, both intelligent and culturally developed and advanced. He got severe criticism from all the corners for supporting far east Asian countries including Japan and negating the Africa.
But I have observed characteristics of a culturally advanced society in Japan and used to propagate my feeling to my friends and relatives in other countries.
Disposal of garbage and domestic waste is an indispensable task of local authorities. Refuse disposal, sewerage disposal and street cleaning expenditures take up more than half of the total municipal health and hygiene expenditures, where municipalities are making their greatest effort. The volume of garbage has been increasing as living standards rise, and municipalities are trying hard to dispose of it as efficiently as possible.
Sewerage disposal is directly tied to maintaining good sanitary conditions and to ensuring clean rivers or lakes. Therefore, it is imperative to provide disposal plants with sufficient capacity. It is important to note that municipalities are only responsible for the disposal of domestic waste; it is the responsibility of the producer to dispose of industrial waste. However, the complexity of the problem forces local authorities to demonstrate commitment in this field.
Infact I used to argue with my friends about the public awareness of garbage disposal and public hygienic practices being adopted and practiced by Japanese society. J. Philippe Rushton, in his famous k-group transition theory grouped Japanese society as one of the most civilized human race, both intelligent and culturally developed and advanced. He got severe criticism from all the corners for supporting far east Asian countries including Japan and negating the Africa.
But I have observed characteristics of a culturally advanced society in Japan and used to propagate my feeling to my friends and relatives in other countries.
Disposal of garbage and domestic waste is an indispensable task of local authorities. Refuse disposal, sewerage disposal and street cleaning expenditures take up more than half of the total municipal health and hygiene expenditures, where municipalities are making their greatest effort. The volume of garbage has been increasing as living standards rise, and municipalities are trying hard to dispose of it as efficiently as possible.
Sewerage disposal is directly tied to maintaining good sanitary conditions and to ensuring clean rivers or lakes. Therefore, it is imperative to provide disposal plants with sufficient capacity. It is important to note that municipalities are only responsible for the disposal of domestic waste; it is the responsibility of the producer to dispose of industrial waste. However, the complexity of the problem forces local authorities to demonstrate commitment in this field.
In the field of health and hygiene, the central government handles the national qualifying examinations for doctors and nurses, the licensing of pharmaceutical products, general planning and instructions. Most of the actual administration closely connected with residents is undertaken by prefectures and municipalities.
The total expenditure is 5,707 billion yen in fiscal 2005, and the share borne by municipalities is three times that of prefectures. Public health comprises more than 86% of the total prefectural expenditures; on the other hand, in the case of municipalities, refuse disposal, sewerage disposal, and street cleaning expenditures comprise more than 51% of the total.
The total expenditure is 5,707 billion yen in fiscal 2005, and the share borne by municipalities is three times that of prefectures. Public health comprises more than 86% of the total prefectural expenditures; on the other hand, in the case of municipalities, refuse disposal, sewerage disposal, and street cleaning expenditures comprise more than 51% of the total.
Japan has such an admirable local governance system handed over by generations and implemented and verified by culturally developed and advanced community members.
Akihabara may be one of the most crowded region of Tokyo. Maintainance of public resources in such an area requires constant monitoring. Lapses happens but will be corrected immediately. But even if it is for a short period of time, throwing garbages publicly is one of the unexpected thing in Japan.
Akihabara's crowd and a small level of indiscipline can be attributed to the street sales and sales canvassing on the road sides. Akihabara may be the place where we can see maximum number of gaikokujins - foreigners. But the disposal of garbage may not be accused on the density of the foreigners !
Anyway, I thought of sharing these photos to make aware within the Japanese society and among foreigners living in Tokyo that sometimes Tokyo municipalities are also not immune to unhygienic practices !
Akihabara may be one of the most crowded region of Tokyo. Maintainance of public resources in such an area requires constant monitoring. Lapses happens but will be corrected immediately. But even if it is for a short period of time, throwing garbages publicly is one of the unexpected thing in Japan.
Akihabara's crowd and a small level of indiscipline can be attributed to the street sales and sales canvassing on the road sides. Akihabara may be the place where we can see maximum number of gaikokujins - foreigners. But the disposal of garbage may not be accused on the density of the foreigners !
Anyway, I thought of sharing these photos to make aware within the Japanese society and among foreigners living in Tokyo that sometimes Tokyo municipalities are also not immune to unhygienic practices !
It is rare that something like this happens in Tokyo. It is after all a city. Like all very large cities trash can sometimes spill over onto the streets. Although, I too am impressed by how clean Tokyo maintains herself.
ReplyDeleteThough Tokyo is almost clean, something like this we can observe at some areas of Tokyo. It is unfortunate, but is a fact that some of the Tokyo people are not so serious about cleanliness.
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