The squad saving deer from tourist trash in Nara

Here's a novel idea: install some trash cans.

"Some activists have even retrieved chunks of plastic waste from Nara deer carcasses."

Are we to believe activists in Japan are conducting autopsies on dead deer?

The park has no public bins -- a policy introduced about four decades ago to stop deer scavenging in them for food.

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How difficult is it to produce deer proof bins?

The problem is that Nara city has not thought through the problem that millions of tourists to Japan would bring.

Taking their money is the easy part but dealing with them isn’t -time to wise up!

The squad saving deer from tourist trash in Nara

I know they can be a nuisance, but that’s no way to talk about tourists…….

The problem is not that the Japanese don’t have money to fix the issues-that’s not it.

The problem is that the bureaucrats in the city office have no idea how to treat the problem that foreigners bring nor do they wish to.

Their idea is to complain and procrastinate whilst wringing their hands-pathetic!

The problem is that the bureaucrats in the city office have no idea how to treat the problem that foreigners bring nor do they wish to.

I think the problem is that you didn't read the article. Or you did and you just didn't get it.

Not only do the bureaucrats not have 'no idea how to treat the problem', they have TWO ideas quite clearly detailed in the article.

"a quiet but dedicated team of litter-pickers patrols the stone paths, collecting plastic waste that threatens the animals' health."

"Nara authorities are trialling high-tech, solar-powered bins near the park in a 20-million-yen project."

You don't have to throw away trash for the deer to eat it. I had a deer come up from behind me and grab a paper bag out of my hand while I was walking. These deer are not like the ones in the woods, they're more like goats.

Here's a novel idea: install some trash cans.

Here's a better idea: educate foreing tourist first.

""With cultural differences in mind, Nara authorities are trialling high-tech, solar-powered bins near the park in a 20-million-yen project.""

The bins can automatically compress trash and bear the slogan: "Save the Nara deer from plastic waste".

Been to several Hanabi / Fireworks events were trash was overflowing from bins and all round the towns, it's not just tourists it's because some Do Not Wish to carry their Greasy Sticky, Slimy, smelly, trash with them for 2 to 5 hours then into their hotel rooms for another 5 to 8 hours.

Install some bins Please.

@Clipperyclop

With cultural differences in mind, Nara authorities are trialling high-tech, solar-powered bins near the park in a 20-million-yen project.

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Read the words above!

It’s a trial, right?

Imagine needing a trial for garbage bins-ridiculous!

I‘ve seen these measures in Japan before and guess what?

Nothing changes!

When the measures are adopted then you can sound off…

kurisupisu- well said

Also, I’ve seen these disadvantaged groups offering cheap or unpaid labour.

i’d wager that these are not full time staff but just appear once a day for 15 minutes.

"a quiet but dedicated team of litter-pickers patrols the stone paths, collecting plastic waste that threatens the animals' health."

Read the words above! It’s a trial, right? Imagine needing a trial for garbage bins-ridiculous!

You read them again, verrry slowly.

It's a solar powered bin that compresses trash, not a basket. Of course it needs a trial.

I‘ve seen these measures in Japan before and guess what? Nothing changes!

Where have you seen them before? You haven't, have you?

When the measures are adopted then you can sound off…

One has been adopted and is working. You stated that they have 'no ideas' to deal with the problem, and have now admitted that they have two.

So naturally your next step is to whinge about the solutions that you previously stated they don't have. Pathetic.

What do you suggest they do?

Seems silly to say you want to almost double your tourist visitor total when you can't decide how to deal with litter. Put in some trash bins already. Forget the trial. Many people in the world just will not pack out their trash. Accept that and move on.

Restroom capacity and cleaning will also need attention/increase. No need to study it, just "make it so!".

Sorry but this is ridiculous. If Japan wants to receive 60 million tourists per year, then it has to start adapting some international norms at least in touristy areas starting with installing trash cans.

This. All of this. Japan wants the income it so desperately needs from the tourism industry but doesn't want to implement basic and standard tourist infrastructure. It's not hard to install deer proof rubbish bins and with the number of tourists visiting Japan climbing daily, they have more than enough to set aside a budget for installing said deer proof rubbish bins.

No bins = government caused problem.

You know what is even better than a self-compacting garbage can is a garbage can with someone employed to empty it.

TokyoLivingFeb. 12  08:12 pm JST

Here's a better idea: educate foreing tourist first.

Yes, because no one has ever seen a Japanese person littering.

The problem is not that the Japanese don’t have money to fix the issues-that’s not it.

The problem is that the bureaucrats in the city office have no idea how to treat the problem that foreigners bring nor do they wish to.

Exactly!

Their idea is to complain and procrastinate whilst wringing their hands-pathetic!

Don't forget the teeth sucking while tilting the head to the side and sighing "muzukashii desu ne"

I agree with Taiwan here.

No need for fancy Solar driven plastic garbage compactors at all.

Ordinary trash bins don’t need any energy on cloudy days or in the evening.

Besides, most trash is compacted in garbage trucks here anyway.

How to solve the problems?

1.Reduce access to the deer, by fencing them off.

Charge admission to an enclosed area which is staffed to allow tourists to interact with them under supervision.

3.Double the cost of vending machines in the area of the park to reduce plastic waste.

Jobs and revenue created and plastic problems reduced and/or solved.

Simple!

Skips or large wire baskets but won't stop all people from throwing their garbage on the ground.

How to solve the problems?

1.Reduce access to the deer, by fencing them off.

Charge admission to an enclosed area which is staffed to allow tourists to interact with them under supervision.

3.Double the cost of vending machines in the area of the park to reduce plastic waste.

With as much respect as I can muster, these are dire 'solutions'. Cruel, joyless and just awful. Worse than any bureaucrat could come up with. Abject.

Imprisoning the deer in stinking pens and turning it into a filthy, miserable and expensive petting zoo.

I'm not sure that Nara want's to completely ruin its tourist model. Removes all of the joy from being in Nara.

Ok.

I give up.

The only way to go is to institute anther Sakoku period and be done with the barbarism!

It's not only foreign tourists. Have you ever been to the beach in summer, seen the park after hanami, or looked at the ground during hanabi? How about the trash just randomly lying around on the ground near stations or on the sidewalks? Ever been to a summer festival? All this was happening long before tourists arrived. Why continually blame foreign tourists when we know that Japanese people do their fair share of littering. It was like this even during the pandemic.

Just the other day I was walking along behind a couple of young women when one of them threw a paper pikachu mask to the ground. I picked it up, thinking she'd dropped it by accident, but no - she didn't want it back and walked away from me. In retrospect, I should have followed her and insisted she take her trash home with her.

Why continually blame foreign tourists when we know that Japanese people do their fair share of littering.

Because the Japanese are infallible; didn't you know? They are the kindest, cleanest, most polite people in all the land!

It's not only foreign tourists.

No, it's not. But it's more foreigners than Japanese that dispose of trash incorrectly.