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Tokyo Weekender
4 days ago
- General
- Tokyo Weekender
Meet Sadao Obata: The Tsunami Survivor Volunteering To Clean Toilets for 30 Years
Working as a shuttle bus driver for Tohoku Electric Power Company, Sadao Obata narrowly avoided death following the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011. His family also survived, but his home and car didn't . In the aftermath of the disaster, he felt the best thing he could do as an individual was to help his hometown of Tagajo in Miyagi Prefecture. List of Contents: A Letter From Japan's 'God of Toilet Cleaning' Sadao Obata's Inspiring Story Related Posts A Letter From Japan's 'God of Toilet Cleaning' Obata then received a letter from Hidesaburo Kagiyama, the founder of the Japanese automotive accessory retail chain Yellow Hat, who is known for his strong belief in the power of cleaning, especially toilet cleaning. Kagiyama asked Obata what he needed. 'Cleaning tools' was the response. They arrived shortly after and Obata took them to the Tagajo City Gymnasium, where he had been cleaning the toilets once a week for the previous seven years. The gym was being used as an evacuation center for around 500 displaced individuals. Obata was one of them. Concerned about the state of the toilets with so many people staying there, he made it his mission to keep them clean. He would pick up trash at 4 a.m., clean the toilets at 5 a.m. and then go to work. No exceptions. He continued this without missing a single day until the evacuation center was closed. Obata, 69, sees the act of cleaning as a refinement of the soul. He has been cleaning toilets in public facilities and schools as a volunteer in Tagajo city for just under three decades, beginning at the age of 40. He was inspired by a radio program featuring Kagiyama. The entrepreneur spoke about how cleaning toilets can help cultivate discernment and develop a sense of appreciation and passion in people's lives. Sadao Obata's Inspiring Story Obata was hooked. He began cleaning the restrooms at a local junior high school and a park near his home. Providing him with a sense of accomplishment, he reached out to more locations. Some initially weren't welcoming. However, according to Obata, there has been a significant change over the years in the way people respond to him. And if there's a problem, he'll improvise, such as the time he used snow to scrub the floors and toilet bowls when the water supply froze. Come rain or shine, Obata will stick to his schedule. He cleans toilets for a few hours after work on weekdays and in the mornings and afternoons on weekends. Hearing about his story, Chiharu Sugimoto, 67, a member of the Kagawa Cleaning Study Group, who also cleans toilets at tourist spots in Takamatsu city, decided to invite Obata to deliver lectures in various parts of Kagawa Prefecture on June 16. He will also demonstrate his toilet cleaning skills at Takamatsu's Kita Chuo Park. Related Posts All The Cool Shibuya Toilets: Transparent, Futuristic, Unisex & More Tokyo Toilet Tour: Sample Japan's Finest Porcelain Thrones Exhibitionist Exploits Transparent Toilet in Shibuya
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First Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Yellow Hat revolt in France: Farmers up in arms, headache for Macron as support for Le Pen swells
The Yellow Hat movement that has taken over rural France has become a major headache for French President Emmanuel Macron, but a key to the parliament for National Rally's Marine Le Pen read more A yellow wave is taking over rural France with farmers in the country expressing discontent with the French President Emmanuel Macron and his government. This month, hundreds gather to celebrate a landmark victory for their movement, led by Coordination Rurale Union. The group that staged demonstrations across the country is known for its signature yellow hats and had made unprecedented gains in February's farming union elections. With the win, the union broke the hegemony of the establishment FNSEA in representing farmers in France and Brussels. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Politico, the Coordination Rurale Union was at the forefront of recent farmers' protests in France, outflanking the FNSEA with hard-hitting action, ranging from confrontations with President Emmanuel Macron to setting manure on fire in front of government buildings. However, the aggressive tactics of the group also acquired criticism for what rivals said are intimidation tactics. How it started and its connection with the National Rally Party According to the reportage by Politco, the movement was born 40 kilometers from Auch, in the heart of Gasscony, near the Spanish border. Serge Bousquet-Cassagne one of the key figures of the group has around 17 court appearances for actions ranging from vandalizing supermarkets to illegally constructing water basins used for irrigation. 'In this country, if you don't burn cars you don't get acknowledged,' he said during a conversation with Politico. Interestingly, Bousquet-Cassagne is closely associated with the French political far right, having called National Rally President Jordan Bardella 'their last hope.' The close association has also sparked speculations that the movement is being fueled by the right-wing party led by Marine Le Pen. Not only this, the overall farmers' protests have also led to a large chunks of the French countryside swinging far right. How Le Pen's party support is swelling After winning popularity in the industrial area of France, rural heartlands can prove to be a strong reservoir for the National Rally. The party has been trying to gain support in the region by blaming mainstream parties for failed farming policies and accusing Brussels of exposing EU markets to cheaper and inferior foreign produce. According to the Reconquête Poll, 62 per cent of Yellow hat farmers are hard-core supporters of nationalist parties. The survey was conducted ahead of last June's European election by research institutes Cevipof and INP Ensat. Overall support for both the Yellow Hats union and Marine Le Pen's party has surged in many parts of rural France, including in Gers, the administrative district to which Auch belongs. In last June's snap elections, the National Rally got 35 per cent of the vote from this region. Interestingly, that was up 15 percentage points from two years ago in a region that used to be a stronghold of the Social Democrats. Hence, in the year, the movement has become a strong asset to Le Pen and a headache to Macron. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
