Tourists around the world visiting Japan are often moved by Japan’s “toilet culture.” Even the toilets in public places are clean and beautiful.
The toilet is often a place of meticulous care and attention in Japanese households. A few years ago, a song by Japanese singer Kana Uemura titled Toire no Kamisama (The Toilet God) became a hit in Japan and even spread overseas. This song embodies Japan’s unique “toilet culture.”
Japanese people always keep their home bathrooms spotless and beautifully decorated. The bathroom is a wonderful little world, with toilet seat covers, lid covers in various styles, a small rug placed in front of the toilet, and the toilet sparkling clean. Deodorizers are essential, making the bathroom always smell pleasant. This small space often displays decorations, such as paintings, photos, and even bonsai and flower arrangements — the Japanese spare no effort in beautifying this most private space.
In many parts of the world, toilets are still associated with “dirt.” However, the Japanese have transformed what was traditionally considered a “dirty” place into something poetic and comfortable. This aesthetic concept and perseverance have allowed them to create many miracles. By focusing on toilets, the Japanese have captured the hearts of foreign tourists, as everyone needs to use them.
Cleaning toilets is a form of spiritual purification
What is the connection between toilets and the Japanese spiritual world? The Japanese view cleaning toilets as a form of spiritual purification. Even before the song Toire no Kamisama was born, a popular poem in Japan centered on toilet cleaning. Poet Kunio Hamaguchi, who once worked as a cleaner on JR trains, wrote a poem called Toilet Cleaning.
Elementary school teachers often cite this poem to explain the significance of cleaning toilets to students. The poem expresses the joy of transforming a toilet from “dirty” to “beautiful” with his hands. Once full of grime, the toilet becomes shiny and clean, and the poet feels a sense of relief. He recalls his mother’s words: A girl who makes the toilet beautiful will have beautiful children; as a boy, he might meet a stunning bride.
Shuichiro Kageyama, the founder of the well-known Japanese auto parts company Yellow Hat, cleaned his company’s toilets daily for 10 years, inspiring employees to participate in toilet cleaning, which became a “corporate culture.” Visitors frequently came to the company, mainly to see the clean toilets, significantly boosting the company’s reputation.
Kageyama also published books like Life Lessons Learned from Cleaning and Children Grow from Cleaning Toilets. Cleaning toilets reflects a Japanese educational philosophy: One should take personal responsibility for cleanliness, even in dirty places, and with effort, the environment can be transformed. In Japanese elementary schools, although there are janitors, every student has a white cloth for cleaning. They must clean the environment daily, including mopping floors, wiping windows, and flushing toilets.
A Chinese entrepreneur who runs an IT company in Japan once shared a “toilet story.” His company thrived in Japan and established a branch in China. During an inspection of the branch, he only pointed out one shortcoming: the company’s toilets were dirty. He instructed the branch manager to prioritize beautifying the toilets.
Eventually, the Chinese branch’s toilets became as clean and fragrant as those in the Japanese headquarters. He was satisfied and said: “The restroom is also an important symbol of corporate image and part of corporate culture. Toilets in branches outside Japan should also adhere to the principle of cleanliness.”
By emphasizing “toilet culture,” this Chinese entrepreneur clearly understands the essence of Japanese corporate culture, which is why his company thrives in Japan.
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