Following Waseda University's annual festival, students and community members lament the sight of plentiful litter left behind. Despite the joy and camaraderie created during the festivities, the disregard for cleanliness in the aftermath has left many with a bitter taste. Volunteers, predominately students, are rallying to clean the mess, balancing their dedication to education with environmental responsibility.

Festivals in Japan are an important part of tradition and community building. Yet, the issue of rubbish left over after such festivals is a recurrent problem. There is a strong cultural dedication to cleanliness and respect for community spaces in Japan, which is why students and residents are disappointed with the sight post festival.

Similarly, in the US and EU, managing waste after large public events like festivals or sports games is also a big challenge. Unlike in Japan, where there is a social expectation for attendees to take responsibilities for their own trash, in the US and EU there are typically hired cleanup crews. There is a growing recognition that sustainable and responsible behaviors need to become more culturally ingrained.