The main reason why there aren't many rubbish bins in Japan's public spaces
The most elusive 'item' in public spaces in Japan is the rubbish bin. — Pixabay
Visitors to Japan have cited the lack of rubbish bins in public areas, including at train stations, as the biggest inconvenience during their trip, Kyodo news agency reported. This is based on a recent government survey.
According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the issue was cited by 21.9% of over 4,000 foreign visitors surveyed at five major airports in the country as their top concern.
The survey was conducted on respondents before leaving New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Fukuoka airports between December and January.
While the figure improved by about eight percentage points from the previous year, many of the respondents said that after failing to dispose of trash, they had to take it back to their accommodation.
Japan used to have more rubbish bins in public spaces. However, many were removed in recent years, partly due to safety concerns after terror attacks in the country, such as the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, and abroad, like the 2004 Madrid train bombings, according to experts.
Unfortunately, with the disappearance of most rubbish bins in public areas, littering in tourist spots has become a major public concern.
Yohei Takemura, chief executive officer of Forcetec, which installs solar-powered rubbish bins that can compress trash in public spaces, said popular tourist destinations like New York in the United States and Paris in France each have about 30,000 public rubbish bins.
While rubbish cans installed and maintained by the public sector have vanished in Tokyo, there are rubbish bins set up and maintained by the private sector, Takemura said.
On other inconveniences, 15.2% reported communication issues, such as the inability of staff at restaurants and other facilities to speak English, while 13.1% pointed to overcrowding, especially in tourist spots.
Respondents also raised the issue of immigration procedures, complaining over the long waiting time at airports. – Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur rise in ICCA global rankings
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur have strengthened their global standing in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2024 Country & City Rankings, reaffirming their position as premier destinations for international business events. The country hosted 129 international association meetings last year, moving up two spots to 31st in the global country rankings and holding firm at 9th place in the Asia Pacific, remaining within the region's Top 10. Kuala Lumpur also made impressive gains, jumping six places to 26th in the World City Rankings. "Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur's growing reputation reflects their compelling value proposition," said Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre's (the Centre) general manager John Burke. With Kuala Lumpur International Airport served by 79 airlines and visa-free access for 175 countries, Malaysia provides the great connectivity that global business events demand, he said in a statement. "On top of that, we have a mature supply chain aligned with global standards, wide English proficiency and a favourable exchange rate. Combined with its rich cultural heritage and natural assets, Malaysia is a competitive choice." According to the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), business events are projected to contribute RM42.12 billion to the economy by 2030 and attract 5.9 million delegates. These events are expected to drive trade, boost tourism, and support job creation. The Centre was a key venue last year, hosting many of the city's 78 international association events. Owned by KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, a Petroliam Nasional Bhd subsidiary, the Centre is located beneath the Petronas Twin Towers in the KLCC precinct. It offers 34,000 sqm of flexible, purpose-built space with integrated facilities. Burke noted that with sustainability becoming a growing priority in global events, responsible and long-term growth will be vital.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Woman helps durian seller talk to tourists from China
THE beauty of Malaysia also lies in its multilingual society, as Malaysians not only speak standard Bahasa Melayu and English but also communicate in other languages—sometimes ones that are not their mother tongue. A viral TikTok video by a durian seller recently impressed netizens, showing a Malaysian woman helping the vendor communicate with Chinese tourists in fluent Mandarin. The 16-second video showed three Chinese nationals standing in front of the stall, with the customer assisting the durian seller by explaining the types of durians available, as well as the pricing. According to Harian Metro, the durian seller, identified as Mohamad Amin Rosli, said the woman voluntarily assisted him in communicating with the tourists. Before the incident, he explained that he usually uses Google Translate when dealing with foreign customers in the event of a language barrier. 'As a businessman, I am very grateful because, indirectly, she helped me do business with the Chinese tourists, as they could not speak or understand English,' he was quoted as saying. The 34-year-old trader added that he posted the video on TikTok to commemorate the incident but did not expect the post to go viral, amassing over two million views as of press time.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Malaysian woman helps durian seller communicate with Chinese tourists in fluent Mandarin
THE beauty of Malaysia also lies in its multilingual society, as Malaysians not only speak standard Bahasa Melayu and English but also communicate in other languages—sometimes ones that are not their mother tongue. A viral TikTok video by a durian seller recently impressed netizens, showing a Malaysian woman helping the vendor communicate with Chinese tourists in fluent Mandarin. The 16-second video showed three Chinese nationals standing in front of the stall, with the customer assisting the durian seller by explaining the types of durians available, as well as the pricing. According to Harian Metro, the durian seller, identified as Mohamad Amin Rosli, said the woman voluntarily assisted him in communicating with the tourists. Before the incident, he explained that he usually uses Google Translate when dealing with foreign customers in the event of a language barrier. 'As a businessman, I am very grateful because, indirectly, she helped me do business with the Chinese tourists, as they could not speak or understand English,' he was quoted as saying. The 34-year-old trader added that he posted the video on TikTok to commemorate the incident but did not expect the post to go viral, amassing over two million views as of press time.
