Talking about public policy in Japan is fraught with peril. There’s always a reflex among some to defend Japanese mannerisms and public policy by default. (Not you, of course! You never do that. I meant that other guy, don’t sweat it.)
Even if you’re not susceptible to such inclinations, talking about tourism to Japan brings its own moralistic angle. After all, we’re talking about guests to a country. They should follow all applicable local customs, right?
We also can’t discount the role racism plays in these discussions. Some contend that Japan remains relatively clean, for example, because its citizens have high moral standards. Japanese politicians and commentators will frequently praise the country’s 民度 (mindo) for everything from its clean streets to its hygienic food and rigorous work ethic. (The “don’t piss here” signs posted in Japanese near the highway bridge in my neighborhood seem to contradict this, but go off.)
Conversely, garbage-strewn tourist sites are foreigners’ fault. Particularly Korean and Chinese tourists, towards whom Japanese racists hold a deep-seated hostility.
All of this makes talking about the garbage can debate in Japan perilous. This became clear in a recent social media post where we reposted a comment from a Japanese user on X.
