掃除の時間 (Sōji no Jikan)

掃除の時間 (Sōji no Jikan) is a daily school cleaning program practiced across Japan, where students take responsibility for cleaning their classrooms, hallways, and school grounds. The tradition originated in post-World War II Japan, when schools encouraged students to participate in maintaining their environment due to limited resources. Beyond fostering responsibility, teamwork, and respect, this practice also promotes environmental awareness from a young age. By instilling habits of proper waste disposal, recycling, and mindful use of resources, Sōji no Jikan helps reduce plastic waste and encourages children to take ownership of their surroundings, contributing to cleaner, more sustainable communities.

Imagine schools worldwide adopting Soji no Jikan. Students would learn responsibility, teamwork, and respect while developing lifelong habits of proper waste disposal and recycling. By making environmental care part of everyday school life, we could dramatically reduce plastic waste, cultivate eco-conscious citizens, and create cleaner, more sustainable communities across the globe.

Small daily actions in schools could spark big changes for the planet. The Soji no Jikan culture is easily incorporates other messages by using group cleaning time to teach respect, empathy, and cooperation. Anti bullying and safe social media usage lessons have also been adapted into the culture in some countries. Countries now adapting the program include Egypt, Singapore, India, Philippines, Taiwan, Mongolia and several African countries.

Educating the next generation may be a step forward to reducing the effect of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways.

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