Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language

The REAL Reason Japan doesn't have public TRASH CANS! They're LYING TO YOU! | Japan Station 163

Jun 21, 2025

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On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why there's so few trash cans in public places in Japan.

Despite what many sources say the 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo is not the reason there are so few trash cans in public places in Japan. It's actually more complicated than that. While yes, it is true that there was a reduction in the amount of trash cans in some places in Japan--particularly the subway line targeted by Aum Shinrikyo during the sarin gas attack--many of these trash cans were reinstalled some time after the attack. Further trash cans were not used during the attack itself. So you simply cannot say that the sarin gas attack was the direct cause for Japan's lack of public trash cans. In reality, it's a combination of things that resulted in Japan severely reducing the amount of trash cans in public places. One reason is concerns over people dumping trash they aren't supposed to dump in public trash cans. Concerns over crows and other animals causing messes when they try to get food from public trash cans also played a role. In terms of security concerns, athough the sarin gas attack no doubt traised concerns it was the 2004 and 2005 terrorist attacks in London and Spain that actually had a direct impact on the number of public trash bins in Japan. Finally, efforts to cut costs on the part of Japanese railways and other private businesses also play a significant role in the disappearance of Japan's public garbage cans.

We also discuss strategies for managing your trash while you are in Japan, where you can find trash cans in Japan and what people in Japan are doing to deal with the increase in trash and litter that has resulted from increased tourism.

👉Topics Discussed

Why there aren't any trash cans in public places in Japan?
Why it is not true that the 1995 sarin gas terrorist attack conducted by Aum Shinrikyo in Tokyo is not the reason Japan has so few trash cans in public places
About the failed 1995 hygrogen cyanide gas attack in Shinjuku Station (新宿駅青酸ガス事件, Shinjuku eki seisan gasu jiken) which was also conducted by members of Aum Shinrikyo
Whether trash cans were removed from Japanese train stations after the 1995 sarin gas attack
Whether garbage cans in public places were common in Japan during the '90s and 2000s
The fact taht trash cans were reinstalled some time after the 1995 sarin gas attack
Why municipalities across Japan have been trying to reduce the number of trash cans in public since the '90s
People dumping trash they shouldn't in public trash cans
How concerns over crows have played a role in the disappearance of public trash cans in Japan
How the 2004 and 2005 London and Madrid terrorist attacks played a role in the disappearance of Japan's public trash cans
How efforts to cut costs played a role in Japan's trash cans being reduced in number
What you should do with your trash when visiting Japan
Where to find trash cans in Japan
About Japanese trash culture and manners
What people in Japan are doing in places where increased tourism has resulted in more trash and littering
And much more!

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👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Here is the link to the article by dragoner that was mentioned in this episode

"Why did Japan's trash cans disappear?" 日本のゴミ箱、なぜ消えた？

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