The Disappearance, Return, and Disappearance of Trash Cans in Japan

Apologies for the delay in this week's episode! A last minute re-record was needed
to add in some information newly reported this week in Japanese media.

For two decades, it was the lament of inexperienced visitors to Japan: Where are all the trash cans? It’s a cruel trick, in a way: In a country with innumerable vending machines, there’s often nowhere to put one’s wrappers or empty bottles.

Public waste bins and garbage cans were largely removed from Japanese cities following the 1995 sarin gas attacks, forcing residents to adopt some of the world’s more disciplined waste disposal techniques.

Gradually, however, trash cans made their return to Japanese public spaces.

The return, it would seem, may be short-lived. In February 2022, it was reported that Tokyo Metro removed all 239 trash cans in its stations across the capital, following a similar move by the Seibu Railway Company.

For its part, however, JR East has announced that it has no plans to remove trash cans from its stations.

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