For a location that's used by thousands of people daily, it's amazing how clean it is. Thank you for showing us all of the hard work needed to keeping it this way.
I actually worked with JEA for a few years in their effort to learn simple English so they could offer kind help to international visitors in the stations. They all really have big hearts for the visitors to the stations.
The state of the Toilets were unbelievable. Never seen a "Public Toilet" in a "Major Train Station" that clean. Where I came from is worse than a murder scene
Another great thing in Japan is that there is no stigma attached to being a cleaning staff, unlike in many other countries where it is often considered unskilled labor and paid poorly by employers and looked down upon by the general public, in Japan cleaners are given respect and are paid a fair salary.
I wouldn't go as far as to say there is "no stigma" but maybe less? Seldom will a salarywoman date down to a janitor. Also if there was no stigma then why is one of the factors of the staggering suicide rate is failing an exam that would get them a certain job? Japan is clean because of two things : the homogeny and the culture. Littering is stigmatized (which is great!). Not many garbages around but culturally people take their trash home! We can take a lesson from them. 😉
As a NYer, I can so appreciate this. I think that Japanese people take extra pride in doing their jobs. Also, you have to give credit to the Japanese people for caring about their surrounding and not making a mess. I wish as NYers everyone would care 50% of how these people do. NY Transit have workers who don't care and we have people who throw out their garbage anywhere even if there is a garbage can a few steps away. That is why we constantly have fire on the rails because of trash.
Although as a guy who grew up in NYC I have seen the New York Subway cleaning crew do deep cleans of stations late at night, with power water blasters and all. They do their best. It’s the disgusting passengers and some mentally insane psychs and/& homeless that make the system look bad.
So true. I knew cleanliness was something that is very common in Japan, especially in their train stations. Now seeing how it's done, it amazes me even more than usual. I'm also a New Yorker, born and raised, and I hate seeing dirty tracks, platforms, streets, and the bathrooms, I won't even start. You know how it is anyway since you also live in the same city. If more New Yorkers were like this and actually follow the advice of the MTA ads of keeping our stations clean, and just overall keep our city clean, then our city would look a lot a lot nicer and pleasant, among other major things that seriously need to change.
I will never forget one of these guys picked up one of our baby's toy that accidentally fell on the train tracks. They didn't scoff at us or treated the situation as petty, instead they took it seriously and were so methodical in timing in between train arrivals, then they used a long rod to pick up the toy. So professional and efficient, mad respect to these Japanese workers!
@@onlyinjapan I couldn’t agree more. Thank you, John for bringing these hardworking Japanese people into the much deserved limelight. And thank you for bringing us with you on your walking tours on a daily basis on the “GO” channel. Much love from the Philippines, Man!
@Emoji ini dia si anonim yang muncul buat jadi party pooper dan sengaja ngerusak hari semua orang. Berasa berkuasa soalnya dia berlindung di balik anonimitasnya. Dasar Sosiopat semoga lo gak akan sembuh. Atau cuma bot yang gak punya jiwa
One small note: The hard work does **not** go unnoticed. It's something that stood out to me on my first trip to Japan and still amazes me every visit, and one that shocks every single person I've taken to Japan. Maybe it goes unnoticed by locals that have always considered it normal, but for the rest of the world, it's exemplary.
My children had visited Japan twice & they say, it’s beautiful in Japan and they appreciate how the people look after their country. Watching this video, just confirmed it
When I see people working hard to keep the country clean here, I really make an effort to do it too. I’m not sure I felt the same way before moving here, but when I go home to the USA to visit, the habits here follow me back. The culture shock is when I go back home! 🤣 but there and so many things to love about both places, it’s just different. I’m glad you children had a nice trip here and noticed it.
I love all the extra safety measures they do, it’s how all jobs should be. It is the opposite of extreme, this is how you respect labour properly. All of these people are why the rest of the entire japanese society can rely on trains and focus on their jobs. They are pivotal to the success of japanese public transit!
@Julian Martov it’s not slavery, it’s quite simple, Japanese people respect themselves, they don’t want to embarrass themselves, burping loudly, throwing an empty drink can wherever it lands, clearing up after themselves, on a bus or train for example. Because they respect themselves & value the opinion of others they can respect their own family, they can respect others, neighbours, workmates, public service staff and property that isn’t theirs. Why not behave in a civilised manner? What is there to gain from leaving your coffee cup & sandwich wrapper on the train instead of in the bin? How would you feel if you sat in a mess? Why should you have to move someone else’s mess? Why should you leave mess for others to clean? Don’t say because you want to, as that shows a person who failed to mature & thinks like a moody teenager who hates the world. I pity you if you think people working together & being responsible citizens is being a slave. I’m sure you’ve heard of slavery, to say people being decent citizens is completely ridiculous. Have you heard of modern slavery? That’s far, far more than a few rules & courtesy to others. That’s what petulant teenagers might say when their bedroom is a mess or they are asked to contribute to keeping the house clean & family life going smoothly. If they’re asked to put washing in the machine or clean their room…with a dramatic sigh, a huff & a puff then loudly declare that they aren’t a slave. Alas, most adults have matured and moved on from immature tantrums
I'm Japanese, living in the states for many years. Last trip to Tokyo, I used a bathroom in Tokyo Station. This cleaning lady was wiping the floor with her hands, on her knees, making public toilet's floor spotless. I was so moved, thanked her for her great work. She seemed surprised at first, but then smiled and thanked me for thanking her. 😳 As Horino-san said in the video, we do believe there is god in every little thing that exists. We naturally respect things and nature because of this belief, I think. I still remember that every June, on the opening day of the school swimming pool (many schools in Japan have swimming pool on site), Shinto priest came to pray to the god of water for the safety and no accidents, by giving sake and grains of rice. I thought it was like that everywhere in the world as a kid. 😆
I'm in tears because of how well they are taking care of each on. It's an honor. Standing at attention looking out for a "phantom" train. Knowing that although this may look mundane it is super important. Ashe!
I wonder if the responsibility of standing guard to alert your fellow coworkers of incoming trains even when none are scheduled, came about due to an accident in the past which became enshrined in this role or if it predates trains when people working by the sea had someone look out for big waves that might appear suddenly and wash away people. The ultra cautious Japanese attitude towards preventing accidents which not only affects the individual but can shut down train lines inconveniencing thousands of people who in turn may affect even more people makes it a priority to prevent accidents as much as possible.
This was very evident to me 25 years ago when I first visited Japan. The public restrooms in Narita airport were immaculate, you could eat off the floor clean. It's too bad other countries don't have the moral obligation to be as hygienic as the Japanese. Kudos to them and their culture.
Japan is a model for the world, the people, their culture, hardwork. Great video loved watching and learning. Love you Japan my respect for you increased so much
It is a fact, that JR and its fellow companies have introduced ticket machines with audio guide and Braille for more than 25 years already, while other (also high standard) countries still try to invent such a thing to ease the way for less able people/customers.
Japanese tourists must be appalled when they visit but they are so nice we never know. The organization, discipline and dedication you showed in this video is amazing ! Much respect to Japan.
Ah! You’re one of those Americans who think the world revolves around you and that all comments referred to the United States. My guess is that you meant to say that Japanese tourist must be appalled when they visit a foreign country, but they are so nice the host country would never know
@@AlphaGeekgirl We have the same guess about what Op meant. But why would you conclude that op is American who thinks the world revolves around him just because of the comment? I'm not American and I also think Japanese might get appalled if they visit my country.
Everything is done with military precision to ensure that the passengers have a good experience and the workers have a safe working environment. The fact that the workers take so much pride in what would be regarded as a menial job in other countries is a credit to the Japanese work ethic. You do your job proudly, correctly, efficiently and safely whether you're the CEO or the janitor. More countries should adopt these principles.
For some people, such works may be small, but they are very important for society to function. The staff has my respect. Thanks for the informative video. 😊
Facility Management is probably the most important job far more important than a doctors, or a surgeons job. Sadly the gratitude of the job isn't always nice at least not here in Sweden.
It starts with every person not being poorly educated by their parents and throwing garbage everywhere. They know public space is everybody space and should be kept clean by everybody.
When I worked for the State Park system in California USA people would deliberately leave a mess because they thought it was my job to clean up after them which it was because they would not. They had no respect for nature or the buildings and would leave crud and discussting words and images. Americans as a whole have no culture of respect for anything or even each other. I have the greatest respect for the Japanese people that keep their culture and history alive.
I’ve long admired Japan’s lifestyle of cleanliness and order. This was an interesting look into how they accomplish that on a large scale. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Japan but who knows, maybe one day. 🥰❤️
If you do visit Japan, carry some hand sanitizer or your own soap dispenser. Many public washrooms don't provide soap, so there is no way people can wash their hands properly afterwards.
the ironic thing is that japanese men rarely wash their hands after a bathroom visit, even if it's a number 2. i've seen it nearly every time over the years i've lived here, from students in university to company employees and strangers in public bathrooms.
@@lullemans72 Especially perplexing was at the beginning of the pandemic, when I visited. The hand dryers were wrapped up for "safety" but almost no one needed them with the lack of hand washing !
@@lullemans72 Air dryers could be phased out in some places and replaced with devices that project UV-C light, which kills bacteria and viruses effectively. Of course, washing your hands properly is also necessary to remove larger contaminants, even if they're not visible to the naked eye. Some health services are now using UV-C to sterilise or decontaminate areas and equipment, as well as surgeons hands before operations. Industrial ones can be made that don't emit ozone gas, also making them safer than cheaper models. I wouldn't be surprised if we see UV-C hand machines being installed in public toilets eventually as an alternative to oft-skipped water/air washing.
Lived in Japan for a few years , the trains and the station were always clean, and some had local markets set up selling homemade items before getting on.
The Japanese people are very duty bound, concientious, and respectful! Also very disciplined as to how their trains run on time to the minute and their fine work ethic. Enjoyed this video very much! Thank You!
These people are the backbone of the country. I am so impressed by their dedication and the way they ensure safety. Wonderful country , wonderful people.
They know exactly how to prevent accidents ! Allowing the staff to "focus" on the task at hand without having to worry if a train is comming, is the right way to do it !
Makes me miss Japan even more. This is work ethic / dedication on a different level. Really good production John. Keep up the good work! Hopefully i will be back at Ueno this summer!
it may look good to you on the outside, but wait til you get on the inside. working for japanese companies is not an easy feat. with customer demands being very high, companies will sometimes do whatever it takes to satisfy those expectations, even at the cost of their or their staffs health and well being.
Because their culture is based on an Imperial System. Good news. The Strictness of the culture ends up with more suicides in the end. At least it's not the Communist Culture of China which has lead to the most corrupt government ever. No one can trust anyone including their family and friends in China. Nothing like learning about other cultures.
@@RabbitsInBlack Did you know Japan's suicide rate had been decreasing 10 consecutive years until the pandemic ( 2019) and it still lower than that of US in 2022 and not so different from other western countries.
One thing I notice in these videos of Japan and how the people work or go about things is that japanese people are serious in whatever they do and so respectful. Really a model on how people should be.
This video was fascinating. If people ask me what I _love_ about Japan, probably the first thing I mention is how _clean_ the train station restrooms are (even in smaller stations, not just in major ones like UENO) and how there is _always_ toilet paper. It just says something very positive about a culture that these amenities, which are obviously used and needed by people every day, are kept in immaculate working order.
I strongly believe Japan has struck the best balance of individual freedom and respect for structure / discipline. You see a culture of continuous process / task improvement that respects the past but is not crippled by it. When you treat ANY job with importance / professionalism, no job is menial. Thanks as always John.
Its amazingly surprising how clean the place is normally. No job is supposed to be called unskilled labour. It requires a lot of skill to finish the slightest of any work perfectly. A big salute to the japanese public and the technology too in helping maintain cleanliness at all levels
Japanese citizens are so dedicated towards well being of their people and their mother land.What do they eat to become such super dedicated Humanbeing.God bless them.
I like that Japan's train management companies actually schedule properly to not only have their trains run on time, but they schedule departure times for their cleaners to do a thorough job, it really shows a good corporate ethic on quality of service.
Never been to Japan but have much respect for the people of Japan. Not surprised they keep their places so clean. Wish everyone would just do the right thing and clean up after themselves. Thanks for sharing.
It's like an intricately choreographed ballet. Everything is carefully planned. Every person knows their part and executes it with pride and excellence.
having the lookouts there even when there are no trains scheduled to arrive is not extreme at all, it shows caring and compassion for their coworkers, safety is always first
I wish many (not all) of the people in the Uk had just half of motivation and pride that the Japanese workers put into their work. Such a huge difference.
Firstly as someone who worked in McDonald, cleaning and other things I can honestly tell u that some members of the Public are very filthy. They leave all kinds the things in the toilets. And are just generally do it deliberately, I am not talking about the kids, adults are the filthy ones.
15:30 I used to clean a primary school 3 times per week and I was very thorough with the toilets and washrooms especially. I wiped down all surfaces with disinfectant and disposable towel, never running towels from a germ-high area over touch points like seats or flush handles, etc. I also disinfected all touch points like door handles, tap handles, button for the hand dryer, etc. I took pride in leaving it looking clean and being germ free even though it extended my time from 2.5hrs to 3hrs some days. Some days I'd spend a little extra time doing something that wasn't part of the standard cleaning, just to keep the place above average. I reasoned, that if my nephews and nieces went to school there I'd want it to be germ free and thoroughly clean, so that's how I treated it. The school principal was always very vocal about how happy she was with the job and she never talked down to me. She even told me the school inspector had visited and hoped to meet me just to tell me I was a doing a great job. Also, when they had some construction done over summer period (school closed) the principal insisted that their cleaner (me) was the only one she trusted to clean the school before the term began. (I'd started dong the job to cover for a friend who had some health issues, and made sure not to do a bad job, since I was representing him, but he couldn't resume, so he handed it over to me. Thankfully because I think I'd raised the bar a bit....without meaning to. But the bar became mine to meet, so that was ok LOL) It pays to take pride in your work; Some people view cleaning toilets as demeaning work, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable work. 🙂
Nice to see these behind the scenes heroes who help to keep Japan as spotless as it is. The job is made a little easier by the naturally respectful Japanese people who always tend to clean up after themselves as much as possible, but still a very important job for everyone to do. Good to see. Thanks :)
This was so beautiful to watch. The fact that these workers are so organized, clean, and dedicated to their jobs is something the world should take note of, especially here in America.
It's amazing how clean they make the place look and how seriously they're taking their jobs. I do think for something like cleaning near or the train tracks itself, security is a must. Anything can happen and they have to be ready for it. Anyways, they look like they're enjoying their work too so that's great. It's hard to find work you'd enjoy after all.
I work in a shop at a train station. I wish the people who are responsible for cleaning the station were that dedicated. We shop employees have to use the public bathrooms (there are closed off stalls inside of the restroom we can use, but they get cleaned even less). This week there was no running tap water in the public bathroom for 5 days and no one did a thing, or even wrote a note, until I called the facility management. They just don't care.
The actions of these staff members shows respect and safety are paramount. Which automatically translates to a pleasant journey for passengers. This is the way!!
Also nice to see they do not take safety for granted, that's when people get killed. They stay on watch whilst their colleagues are on the tracks, just in case. Excellent strict procedures covering all the possibilities.
What love and dedication these guys have for their job…total respect to them all..I hope the passengers appreciate their hard work… 😁🥰😁 watching from UK 🇬🇧
The UK Version is two minutes long and consists of some bloke spitting on the floor and wiping it with his shoe haha. Japan may not be the most productive but I love the unity and passion they have with everything they do.
In an answer to your question, is it too much? Not at all. I wish more people around the world took things this seriously and played their part. Stunning
The amount of decipline they carry is beyond astonishing!! Even the smallest job they do it so diligently, respect for what they do is something they carry proudly!
When it comes to the safety of the commuters and the employees that takes care of the train, there is no such thing are going extreme. Every possible step and process in keeping everyone getting injured is the top priority, I really admire the discipline, dedication and pride of the Japanese workers.
I love the attention to detail. When I visited Japan I loved it. It is like heaven for someone with OCD. Look at everything. Blinds in the airport all adjusted to the same height. Tiles cut on a wall end with full out half tiles.
This was so impressive!!!! And I feel that it’s not overdone to ensure the safety of the workers in that way!!! Life is precious and it’s great to see a company making the effort to appreciate that in such an excellent manner!!! Really enjoyed this video. Thanks!!!!!
Remarkable. Love their respect for their space, themselves, their coworkers, and their jobs. Also love that other Japanese also respect their work and do not just trash all the space around them. So different from the US where so many people are arrogant about their position and their space, such that they throw trash everywhere and expect someone lesser to clean it for them. Japanese respect for each other is amazing.
This is what amazed me about Tokyo. For such a huge city with a massive population, everything was so orderly and incredibly clean. We look forward to returning to Japan, we actually planned to do so with our daughter in 2020 but unfortunately Covid interrupted our plans.
A very cool look behind the scenes. The crew does a great job, they take pride in what they do, and appear to enjoy it. And us passengers and customers appreciate it!
The Japanese take their job very serious, no matter how trivial it may seem to westeners. They perform it diligently and with pride. Their sense of social responsibility is astounding.
I have real pride when I clean anything and it's so wonderful to see that same personal pride. Every job contributes to others and their approach and seriousness reflects that feeling.
Lived in Japan (1968-1969) Loved it . Amazing work ethic and Pride in there Country . There are So Many things in your daily life there that are amazing. Thanks for posting .
I travelled extensively around the world, but Japan is very high on my list. First time I went to Japan was summer. We were totally impressed with everything in Japan. We plan to visit Japan again in every sesion...spring, autumn and winter.
You can never be too cautious when it comes to safety. Respect to the Japanese people for their work ethics. Every little detail zeroed in. No job is less important. Every thing is interconnected with each other. Kudos to this maintenance team!
For a location that's used by thousands of people daily, it's amazing how clean it is. Thank you for showing us all of the hard work needed to keeping it this way.
True! Also, Japanese people on average are some of the most respectful people in the world about social norms, like littering. Respect to them.
I actually worked with JEA for a few years in their effort to learn simple English so they could offer kind help to international visitors in the stations. They all really have big hearts for the visitors to the stations.
The state of the Toilets were unbelievable. Never seen a "Public Toilet" in a "Major Train Station" that clean. Where I came from is worse than a murder scene
☝🏼ONLY in JAPAN w/ John Daub (enough said) 😄😎
Finally im going to japan soon 🤣👏
Another great thing in Japan is that there is no stigma attached to being a cleaning staff, unlike in many other countries where it is often considered unskilled labor and paid poorly by employers and looked down upon by the general public, in Japan cleaners are given respect and are paid a fair salary.
Exactly right, when a job is given a sense of importance in society it will generally be performed better.
@@lordoffishtown4455 So rightly said.
I wouldn't go as far as to say there is "no stigma" but maybe less? Seldom will a salarywoman date down to a janitor. Also if there was no stigma then why is one of the factors of the staggering suicide rate is failing an exam that would get them a certain job? Japan is clean because of two things : the homogeny and the culture. Littering is stigmatized (which is great!). Not many garbages around but culturally people take their trash home! We can take a lesson from them. 😉
Btw .. Whats a fair salary? San Francisco janitors get paid $35/hr
@@maurice2014 I was just going to say similarly. What is meant by a "fair salary"? All the janitors I've ever heard of have been paid pretty well.
As a NYer, I can so appreciate this. I think that Japanese people take extra pride in doing their jobs. Also, you have to give credit to the Japanese people for caring about their surrounding and not making a mess. I wish as NYers everyone would care 50% of how these people do. NY Transit have workers who don't care and we have people who throw out their garbage anywhere even if there is a garbage can a few steps away. That is why we constantly have fire on the rails because of trash.
Although as a guy who grew up in NYC I have seen the New York Subway cleaning crew do deep cleans of stations late at night, with power water blasters and all. They do their best. It’s the disgusting passengers and some mentally insane psychs and/& homeless that make the system look bad.
So true. I knew cleanliness was something that is very common in Japan, especially in their train stations. Now seeing how it's done, it amazes me even more than usual. I'm also a New Yorker, born and raised, and I hate seeing dirty tracks, platforms, streets, and the bathrooms, I won't even start. You know how it is anyway since you also live in the same city. If more New Yorkers were like this and actually follow the advice of the MTA ads of keeping our stations clean, and just overall keep our city clean, then our city would look a lot a lot nicer and pleasant, among other major things that seriously need to change.
@@honeybnoir824 especially nowadays we are being over taken by rats.
unlike the u.s, japan treats liberalism as a mental disorder, maybe something we should copy
I don’t see how they keep the streetscape so clean since you have to really search for a trash can in Tokyo.
駅の掃除してくれてる人の仕事を初めてしっかり見れた！
いつも綺麗にして下さりありがとうございます！
動画を通じて知れました！ありがとうございます！
I will never forget one of these guys picked up one of our baby's toy that accidentally fell on the train tracks. They didn't scoff at us or treated the situation as petty, instead they took it seriously and were so methodical in timing in between train arrivals, then they used a long rod to pick up the toy. So professional and efficient, mad respect to these Japanese workers!
That’s such a nice story! Little things can have big meanings.
@@onlyinjapan I couldn’t agree more. Thank you, John for bringing these hardworking Japanese people into the much deserved limelight. And thank you for bringing us with you on your walking tours on a daily basis on the “GO” channel. Much love from the Philippines, Man!
@Emoji assumption? Imagination?
It will have to go a bit,to beat the UK.
@Emoji ini dia si anonim yang muncul buat jadi party pooper dan sengaja ngerusak hari semua orang. Berasa berkuasa soalnya dia berlindung di balik anonimitasnya. Dasar Sosiopat semoga lo gak akan sembuh.
Atau cuma bot yang gak punya jiwa
こういうプロフェッショナルな方達がいるからいつも綺麗に保たれていると思います。
心から有難う。本当に感謝しかないです🙏🙏
One small note: The hard work does **not** go unnoticed. It's something that stood out to me on my first trip to Japan and still amazes me every visit, and one that shocks every single person I've taken to Japan. Maybe it goes unnoticed by locals that have always considered it normal, but for the rest of the world, it's exemplary.
New York subways have women getting violated during rush hour.
@@KamalasFakePolls Still happens here and probably even worse stuff.
@@KamalasFakePolls MTA just needs to change their whole system.
@@xXrockyiszhereXx Also, people need to be more considerate with their surroundings as well and not litter. 😁✌️
shows how filthy the west is when it comes to public transport cleaniness
My children had visited Japan twice & they say, it’s beautiful in Japan and they appreciate how the people look after their country. Watching this video, just confirmed it
When I see people working hard to keep the country clean here, I really make an effort to do it too. I’m not sure I felt the same way before moving here, but when I go home to the USA to visit, the habits here follow me back. The culture shock is when I go back home! 🤣 but there and so many things to love about both places, it’s just different. I’m glad you children had a nice trip here and noticed it.
I love all the extra safety measures they do, it’s how all jobs should be. It is the opposite of extreme, this is how you respect labour properly. All of these people are why the rest of the entire japanese society can rely on trains and focus on their jobs. They are pivotal to the success of japanese public transit!
@Julian Martov you’re scary, get help.
@Julian Martov it’s not slavery, it’s quite simple, Japanese people respect themselves, they don’t want to embarrass themselves, burping loudly, throwing an empty drink can wherever it lands, clearing up after themselves, on a bus or train for example.
Because they respect themselves & value the opinion of others they can respect their own family, they can respect others, neighbours, workmates, public service staff and property that isn’t theirs.
Why not behave in a civilised manner? What is there to gain from leaving your coffee cup & sandwich wrapper on the train instead of in the bin? How would you feel if you sat in a mess? Why should you have to move someone else’s mess? Why should you leave mess for others to clean? Don’t say because you want to, as that shows a person who failed to mature & thinks like a moody teenager who hates the world.
I pity you if you think people working together & being responsible citizens is being a slave. I’m sure you’ve heard of slavery, to say people being decent citizens is completely ridiculous.
Have you heard of modern slavery? That’s far, far more than a few rules & courtesy to others. That’s what petulant teenagers might say when their bedroom is a mess or they are asked to contribute to keeping the house clean & family life going smoothly. If they’re asked to put washing in the machine or clean their room…with a dramatic sigh, a huff & a puff then loudly declare that they aren’t a slave. Alas, most adults have matured and moved on from immature tantrums
Matthew I do think you are right.
I'm Japanese, living in the states for many years. Last trip to Tokyo, I used a bathroom in Tokyo Station. This cleaning lady was wiping the floor with her hands, on her knees, making public toilet's floor spotless. I was so moved, thanked her for her great work. She seemed surprised at first, but then smiled and thanked me for thanking her. 😳
As Horino-san said in the video, we do believe there is god in every little thing that exists. We naturally respect things and nature because of this belief, I think. I still remember that every June, on the opening day of the school swimming pool (many schools in Japan have swimming pool on site), Shinto priest came to pray to the god of water for the safety and no accidents, by giving sake and grains of rice. I thought it was like that everywhere in the world as a kid. 😆
That’s amazing, it SHOULD be like that everywhere in the world.
私は日本人なので毎日電車、新幹線などを使いますが、この方々が綺麗に掃除をしているから快適に乗れてるんだと改めて感謝致しました。
トイレの神様の話がありましたが、生活の中で一番汚い場所を綺麗にする事で、神様がご褒美で幸運、金運をくれると小さい時から教えられます。なので日本のトイレは綺麗なのかもしれません。
知らない方もいれませんが、映画監督の北野武さんも家のトイレは自分で掃除をすると言ってます。
I'm in tears because of how well they are taking care of each on. It's an honor. Standing at attention looking out for a "phantom" train. Knowing that although this may look mundane it is super important. Ashe!
I wonder if the responsibility of standing guard to alert your fellow coworkers of incoming trains even when none are scheduled, came about due to an accident in the past which became enshrined in this role or if it predates trains when people working by the sea had someone look out for big waves that might appear suddenly and wash away people. The ultra cautious Japanese attitude towards preventing accidents which not only affects the individual but can shut down train lines inconveniencing thousands of people who in turn may affect even more people makes it a priority to prevent accidents as much as possible.
better be safe than sorry :)
Admirable the cleaning company doesn’t cut corners and put their staff or the public at risk for injury.
This was very evident to me 25 years ago when I first visited Japan. The public restrooms in Narita airport were immaculate, you could eat off the floor clean. It's too bad other countries don't have the moral obligation to be as hygienic as the Japanese. Kudos to them and their culture.
Laughs in Indian
Its kind of a culture shock to see such pride they take in their work.
All the contrary in Europe
Everyone works like that when they are on camera
@@heemlo649 not in the case of Japan. Even without camera, Japan takes pride of cleaning. Do not discredit Japan by liken it with western countries
Japan is a model for the world, the people, their culture, hardwork. Great video loved watching and learning. Love you Japan my respect for you increased so much
It is a fact, that JR and its fellow companies have introduced ticket machines with audio guide and Braille for more than 25 years already, while other (also high standard) countries still try to invent such a thing to ease the way for less able people/customers.
@goodearth27 Yup, compare Haiti to Japan lol. Different worlds, it's astounding
@goodearth27No the west does.
Japanese tourists must be appalled when they visit but they are so nice we never know. The organization, discipline and dedication you showed in this video is amazing ! Much respect to Japan.
As an American I am appalled at the immense filth of NYC subways. It is disagraceful.
Appalled at what?
Why would Japanese tourists be appalled?
Ah! You’re one of those Americans who think the world revolves around you and that all comments referred to the United States. My guess is that you meant to say that Japanese tourist must be appalled when they visit a foreign country, but they are so nice the host country would never know
@@AlphaGeekgirl We have the same guess about what Op meant. But why would you conclude that op is American who thinks the world revolves around him just because of the comment? I'm not American and I also think Japanese might get appalled if they visit my country.
I work as an office cleaner in central London and went to Japan in 2010 - and was impressed with the cleanliness level!
Everything is done with military precision to ensure that the passengers have a good experience and the workers have a safe working environment. The fact that the workers take so much pride in what would be regarded as a menial job in other countries is a credit to the Japanese work ethic. You do your job proudly, correctly, efficiently and safely whether you're the CEO or the janitor. More countries should adopt these principles.
Japan is a role model for the whole world,sense of ownership for their work is what sets them apart
Uhhhh...not their suicide rate....
0:45 からのシークエンス本当にすごい。ひたすら駅の中を歩き続けて一周するというのをタイムラプスで高速に見せるだけで、こんなにも駅の広大さとか、色々なお店や設備やプラットホームが詰まっていることを表現できることに感動しました。シンプルで力強い編集
Tbh, I really appreciate cleaners who clean public restrooms. This is hard work, and we should all respect them.
For some people, such works may be small, but they are very important for society to function. The staff has my respect. Thanks for the informative video. 😊
Facility Management is probably the most important job far more important than a doctors, or a surgeons job.
Sadly the gratitude of the job isn't always nice at least not here in Sweden.
@@agamersinsanity someone cleaning a toilet isn't as important as someone in the medical field lol
@@1ajgtwm if you always s**t in a clean toile you'll need fewer doctors. All Hail The Toilet God!
@@alecstirner2412 didn't know cancer, diseases, and other wordly medical issues come from toilets my guy. Next time read before you post
@@1ajgtwm though, il you don't clean them, salmonella does ; All Hail The Toilet God!
One of the reasons I want to visit Japan is just to see how they keep everything so amazingly clean.
It starts with every person not being poorly educated by their parents and throwing garbage everywhere. They know public space is everybody space and should be kept clean by everybody.
When I worked for the State Park system in California USA people would deliberately leave a mess because they thought it was my job to clean up after them which it was because they would not. They had no respect for nature or the buildings and would leave crud and discussting words and images. Americans as a whole have no culture of respect for anything or even each other. I have the greatest respect for the Japanese people that keep their culture and history alive.
I’ve long admired Japan’s lifestyle of cleanliness and order. This was an interesting look into how they accomplish that on a large scale. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Japan but who knows, maybe one day. 🥰❤️
Me too , they move on no matter what the problem is . And they make it look easy and effortless. ❤️
If you do visit Japan, carry some hand sanitizer or your own soap dispenser. Many public washrooms don't provide soap, so there is no way people can wash their hands properly afterwards.
@@Michael-fw5ef why is that?
They take safety and cleanliness really seriously. Man they have to do so many things on the job! Mad Respect!
the ironic thing is that japanese men rarely wash their hands after a bathroom visit, even if it's a number 2. i've seen it nearly every time over the years i've lived here, from students in university to company employees and strangers in public bathrooms.
@@lullemans72 Especially perplexing was at the beginning of the pandemic, when I visited. The hand dryers were wrapped up for "safety"
but almost no one needed them with the lack of hand washing !
@@GWT1m0 good point. They're actually still wrapped up right now, also for safety purposes so corona doesn't spread around in the air.
@@lullemans72 Air dryers could be phased out in some places and replaced with devices that project UV-C light, which kills bacteria and viruses effectively. Of course, washing your hands properly is also necessary to remove larger contaminants, even if they're not visible to the naked eye. Some health services are now using UV-C to sterilise or decontaminate areas and equipment, as well as surgeons hands before operations. Industrial ones can be made that don't emit ozone gas, also making them safer than cheaper models. I wouldn't be surprised if we see UV-C hand machines being installed in public toilets eventually as an alternative to oft-skipped water/air washing.
Lived in Japan for a few years , the trains and the station were always clean, and some had local markets set up selling homemade items before getting on.
I love how professional they are. A lot of people don't realize what an important job this is.
The Japanese people are very duty bound, concientious, and respectful! Also very disciplined as to how their trains run on time to the minute and their fine work ethic. Enjoyed this video very much! Thank You!
These people are the backbone of the country. I am so impressed by their dedication and the way they ensure safety. Wonderful country , wonderful people.
One of the many thing's that I found incredible when I visited Tokyo, the cleanliness.
They know exactly how to prevent accidents ! Allowing the staff to "focus" on the task at hand without having to worry if a train is comming, is the right way to do it !
If cleanliness counts as art, then Japan belongs in the Louvre
Every topic John talks about, turns into gold
Makes me miss Japan even more. This is work ethic / dedication on a different level. Really good production John. Keep up the good work! Hopefully i will be back at Ueno this summer!
it may look good to you on the outside, but wait til you get on the inside. working for japanese companies is not an easy feat. with customer demands being very high, companies will sometimes do whatever it takes to satisfy those expectations, even at the cost of their or their staffs health and well being.
Because their culture is based on an Imperial System. Good news. The Strictness of the culture ends up with more suicides in the end. At least it's not the Communist Culture of China which has lead to the most corrupt government ever. No one can trust anyone including their family and friends in China. Nothing like learning about other cultures.
@@RabbitsInBlack Did you know Japan's suicide rate had been decreasing 10 consecutive years until the pandemic ( 2019) and it still lower than that of US in 2022 and not so different from other western countries.
One thing I notice in these videos of Japan and how the people work or go about things is that japanese people are serious in whatever they do and so respectful. Really a model on how people should be.
No wonder Japan is so successful. The amount of detailing is amazing. God bless Japan. Such an inspiration.
This video was fascinating. If people ask me what I _love_ about Japan, probably the first thing I mention is how _clean_ the train station restrooms are (even in smaller stations, not just in major ones like UENO) and how there is _always_ toilet paper. It just says something very positive about a culture that these amenities, which are obviously used and needed by people every day, are kept in immaculate working order.
I’m a Japanese. We thank them for cleaning stations everyday! They are so professional.
if possible, I hope that trains become less crowded😂
I strongly believe Japan has struck the best balance of individual freedom and respect for structure / discipline. You see a culture of continuous process / task improvement that respects the past but is not crippled by it. When you treat ANY job with importance / professionalism, no job is menial. Thanks as always John.
Its amazingly surprising how clean the place is normally. No job is supposed to be called unskilled labour. It requires a lot of skill to finish the slightest of any work perfectly. A big salute to the japanese public and the technology too in helping maintain cleanliness at all levels
I've never been to Japan, but I can see that it's the cleanest country in the world. Great going, Japan!
Japanese citizens are so dedicated towards well being of their people and their mother land.What do they eat to become such super dedicated Humanbeing.God bless them.
I like that Japan's train management companies actually schedule properly to not only have their trains run on time, but they schedule departure times for their cleaners to do a thorough job, it really shows a good corporate ethic on quality of service.
This is a great story about the unsung individuals who toil anonymously to help keep Japan spotless and clean.
Never been to Japan but have much respect for the people of Japan. Not surprised they keep their places so clean. Wish everyone would just do the right thing and clean up after themselves. Thanks for sharing.
It's like an intricately choreographed ballet. Everything is carefully planned. Every person knows their part and executes it with pride and excellence.
I love the amount of pride and care the Japanese have in their work ethic. A real example of how to do things properly, big respect and well done!
Very impressed with how efficient & well trained the staff are & how serious they take safety…. America’s corporation could learn from Japan .
Your sister could learn from Singapore too, don't you think so ?
Them standing on guard even though no train is coming gave me chills. It’s so cool.
having the lookouts there even when there are no trains scheduled to arrive is not extreme at all, it shows caring and compassion for their coworkers, safety is always first
I just started learning about the wonders of the Japanese culture about 2 years ago. AMAZING🙏🏾
Most undervalued job.
Toilet cleanliness can make or break someone’s day.
I wish many (not all) of the people in the Uk had just half of motivation and pride that the Japanese workers put into their work. Such a huge difference.
Firstly as someone who worked in McDonald, cleaning and other things
I can honestly tell u that some members of the Public are very filthy.
They leave all kinds the things in the toilets. And are just generally do it deliberately, I am not talking about the kids, adults are the filthy ones.
15:30 I used to clean a primary school 3 times per week and I was very thorough with the toilets and washrooms especially. I wiped down all surfaces with disinfectant and disposable towel, never running towels from a germ-high area over touch points like seats or flush handles, etc. I also disinfected all touch points like door handles, tap handles, button for the hand dryer, etc. I took pride in leaving it looking clean and being germ free even though it extended my time from 2.5hrs to 3hrs some days. Some days I'd spend a little extra time doing something that wasn't part of the standard cleaning, just to keep the place above average.
I reasoned, that if my nephews and nieces went to school there I'd want it to be germ free and thoroughly clean, so that's how I treated it. The school principal was always very vocal about how happy she was with the job and she never talked down to me. She even told me the school inspector had visited and hoped to meet me just to tell me I was a doing a great job. Also, when they had some construction done over summer period (school closed) the principal insisted that their cleaner (me) was the only one she trusted to clean the school before the term began. (I'd started dong the job to cover for a friend who had some health issues, and made sure not to do a bad job, since I was representing him, but he couldn't resume, so he handed it over to me. Thankfully because I think I'd raised the bar a bit....without meaning to. But the bar became mine to meet, so that was ok LOL)
It pays to take pride in your work; Some people view cleaning toilets as demeaning work, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable work. 🙂
" Some people view cleaning toilets as demeaning work"
These are the type of people you do not want to associate with.
Japan is the best place to visit for its cleanliness, hospitality, beautiful and safest in the world! 🇯🇵😍🇯🇵
Nice to see these behind the scenes heroes who help to keep Japan as spotless as it is. The job is made a little easier by the naturally respectful Japanese people who always tend to clean up after themselves as much as possible, but still a very important job for everyone to do. Good to see. Thanks :)
This was so beautiful to watch. The fact that these workers are so organized, clean, and dedicated to their jobs is something the world should take note of, especially here in America.
It's amazing how clean they make the place look and how seriously they're taking their jobs. I do think for something like cleaning near or the train tracks itself, security is a must. Anything can happen and they have to be ready for it. Anyways, they look like they're enjoying their work too so that's great. It's hard to find work you'd enjoy after all.
I work in a shop at a train station. I wish the people who are responsible for cleaning the station were that dedicated. We shop employees have to use the public bathrooms (there are closed off stalls inside of the restroom we can use, but they get cleaned even less). This week there was no running tap water in the public bathroom for 5 days and no one did a thing, or even wrote a note, until I called the facility management. They just don't care.
The actions of these staff members shows respect and safety are paramount. Which automatically translates to a pleasant journey for passengers. This is the way!!
That’s why I love Japan. Sooooo clean. Nothing compared to other places in the world.
I love how everyone does their job so seriously. It is no matter what your job is, it is worth doing it right. That’s what set Japan apart.
Only in Japan indeed!!!
Their dedication, integrity and discipline is mind blowing!!
I lived in Japan for 15 years. If every country on Earth followed the Japanese system, boy oh boy would this Planet be such a beautiful success.🙏
Also nice to see they do not take safety for granted, that's when people get killed. They stay on watch whilst their colleagues are on the tracks, just in case. Excellent strict procedures covering all the possibilities.
god bless Japanese efficiency and teamwork
I'm amazed that they take multiple jobs at one go and they are professionals at each one! High respect!
What love and dedication these guys have for their job…total respect to them all..I hope the passengers appreciate their hard work…
😁🥰😁 watching from UK 🇬🇧
The UK Version is two minutes long and consists of some bloke spitting on the floor and wiping it with his shoe haha. Japan may not be the most productive but I love the unity and passion they have with everything they do.
OMG, hilarious- thanks!
This is amazing I wish the rest of the world 🌎 were able to take pride in cleanliness and safety ❤
This is why Japanese craftmanship is well respected. We can see craftmanship even on a seeming tedious work like cleaning.
No I dont think is extreme I think it is amazing how safety conscious they are.. and CLEANER than any country I know!
Nothing but respect for this guys .
In an answer to your question, is it too much? Not at all. I wish more people around the world took things this seriously and played their part. Stunning
I wish that more companies in the west would establish such thoughtful and efficient processes.
I agree
Such a great country. As an Indian I appreciate the hardwork japanese guys put to keep stations clean.
Very professional and well organized, as we can expect from Japan.
I wish other countries were like that.
Japan is the cleanest place I have ever travelled to. Since I’m a clean freak it’s one of my favourite destinations.
As someone who is in a cleaning worker coop, this is inspiring. Thank you!
These people are just so efficient at what the do , even the simplest thing . I glad to see things like that , super clean and safe.
The amount of decipline they carry is beyond astonishing!! Even the smallest job they do it so diligently, respect for what they do is something they carry proudly!
I have much respect for the people that clean and maintain the train stations, as well as the city in general. Thank you for all of your hard work!
I appreciate seeing the care that goes into keeping the train station clean and safe.
living in Japan now, makes you realize to appreciate even the cleaning jobs are just as important
When it comes to the safety of the commuters and the employees that takes care of the train, there is no such thing are going extreme. Every possible step and process in keeping everyone getting injured is the top priority, I really admire the discipline, dedication and pride of the Japanese workers.
I love the attention to detail. When I visited Japan I loved it. It is like heaven for someone with OCD. Look at everything. Blinds in the airport all adjusted to the same height. Tiles cut on a wall end with full out half tiles.
This was so impressive!!!! And I feel that it’s not overdone to ensure the safety of the workers in that way!!! Life is precious and it’s great to see a company making the effort to appreciate that in such an excellent manner!!! Really enjoyed this video. Thanks!!!!!
This why I have a 4Runner, made in Japan! Much respect to those men and women to help their train system run smoothly!
Remarkable. Love their respect for their space, themselves, their coworkers, and their jobs. Also love that other Japanese also respect their work and do not just trash all the space around them.
So different from the US where so many people are arrogant about their position and their space, such that they throw trash everywhere and expect someone lesser to clean it for them.
Japanese respect for each other is amazing.
If only every country were that attentive and serious and respectful
im a janitor at one of the big theme parks in the US and its intresting to see how other places clean around :)
This is what amazed me about Tokyo. For such a huge city with a massive population, everything was so orderly and incredibly clean. We look forward to returning to Japan, we actually planned to do so with our daughter in 2020 but unfortunately Covid interrupted our plans.
A very cool look behind the scenes. The crew does a great job, they take pride in what they do, and appear to enjoy it. And us passengers and customers appreciate it!
The Japanese take their job very serious, no matter how trivial it may seem to westeners. They perform it diligently and with pride. Their sense of social responsibility is astounding.
I really like videos like this that show the People behind the scenes and there hard work that most People take for a given.
Japan is just an amazing country. The best in terms of maintenance
I have real pride when I clean anything and it's so wonderful to see that same personal pride. Every job contributes to others and their approach and seriousness reflects that feeling.
Lived in Japan (1968-1969) Loved it . Amazing work ethic and Pride in there Country . There are So Many things in your daily life there that are amazing. Thanks for posting .
I travelled extensively around the world, but Japan is very high on my list. First time I went to Japan was summer. We were totally impressed with everything in Japan. We plan to visit Japan again in every sesion...spring, autumn and winter.
You can never be too cautious when it comes to safety. Respect to the Japanese people for their work ethics. Every little detail zeroed in. No job is less important. Every thing is interconnected with each other. Kudos to this maintenance team!