What Japan can teach us about cleanliness

One of the first things visitors to Japan notice is how clean everywhere is – yet there are hardly any litter bins and street sweepers.

What’s the secret behind this contradiction?

The students sit with their satchels on their desks, eager to get home after another long day of seven 50-minute classes.

They listen patiently as their teacher makes a few announcements about tomorrow’s timetable.

Then, as every day, the teacher’s final words: “OK everybody, today’s cleaning roster. Lines one and…