In Japan, sports clubs train by cleaning their neighborhoods.

They are already at work at the first light of the morning, in tracksuits, or shorts, and t-shirt, according to their training schedule: in Tokyo, Kyoto and in all the most important cities of Japan the groups of athletes from the sports clubs, amateur or professional, they also train collecting waste, cleaning the streets, taking care of the maintenance of urban spacesAnd they help keep the neighborhoods in the center and on the outskirts in order.

In Japan the practice ofO-soji (Housecleaning) (periodic collective cleaning) and of the Machizukuri (which literally means "taking care of the neighborhood") are part of everyday lifestyles, and involve school and university sports groups (judo, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc.) as well as corporate teams. The maintenance of common spaces, in every corner of the neighborhood, is an integral part of sports training, and not only for the physical aspect (it is also a considerable effort), but above all as form of discipline to strengthen team spirit, and as a tool to strengthen belonging to a community, to a team, of athletes and citizens. 

The practices of collective cleaning and neighborhood care they are practically weekly, in line with the Japanese vision of neighborhood and being together, from the workplace to the condominium, always trying to find a balance between the interests of the individual and the needs of the community. 

Image source: revistaespejo.com

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