Page 30 - Seniorstoday May 2023 Issue

are thankful for your interaction with them.
The service staff are incredibly polite. The
waiters, the concierge, the taxi-drivers,
and the sales people treat you with a lot of
patience and respect.
Japan is an unbelievably clean place.
Part of it has to do with a shared sense of
community. The belief that we all share
this living space and that we all have a
responsibility to care for it. Cleanliness is a
physical manifestation of this mindset. In
Japan, even busy streets tend to be clean for The console in a Japanese toilet
two reasons: people litter less, and people
clean more – and not just after themselves.
It is a common sight to see someone picking
up litter along a street. Cleanliness makes
the quality of life in Japan better, not only
because it fosters a sense of community
but also because it makes everything more
convenient. Public spaces are more usable,
and people are more willing to use it. You
have to put your litter in your pocket and
take it home to throw it. There are no litter The cleanest toilets ever!
bins on the streets. Outside every building, there are unique
Japanese inculcate a sense of discipline in umbrella stands where an umbrella is
their children, right from school. Children locked into a standing position and you can
clean up after lunch. They are taught to take the key and once you return it, you
clean the school premises and even the can unlock and retrieve your umbrella.
toilets. CEOs and head of companies often This prevents you from carrying your wet
announce that they clean their own toilets umbrella into the building where you are
and it’s a virtue to be proud of. going. There is no puddle or mess because
The Japanese have the most advanced of your wet umbrella.
toilets in the world. As soon as you enter
the bathroom, the toilet cover opens
automatically. The toilet seat is warm and
after you have finished your business, there
is a button on the side that you press and
a little tube squirts water on the spot. Yet
another little tube squirts on a larger area.
Press another button and air is released
that circulates within the toilets. Finally, as
soon as you get up, the toilet flushes itself.
Some even have music. An umbrella stand

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