Many Vietnamese students and technical interns arriving in Japan share the same experience: their first culture shock does not come from work or language, but from… taking out the rubbish. It sounds simple, yet through highly detailed and strict regulations, the Japanese have turned waste management into a way of life. It is also at this point that many Vietnamese begin to recognise a fundamental difference in mindset and community awareness. 1. Waste sorting is not encouraged – it is str...


