Cleaning Practice

School cleaning has an educational goal, as a deliberative as well as collaborative activity, aiming to improve interpersonal relationships. It is an essential part of Japanese education and is hypothesised to have positive effects on character development. Cleaning belongs to a whole category o

Cleaning one's hands does not only remove dirt, scientists have also found evidence that it removes residues of the past - like the feeling of guilt or doubts about past decisions. This is called the clean-slate effect. Physical and moral cleanliness - “clean hands and a pure heart” vs. ”dirty h

Green Bird is an organisation which promotes cleaning for social purposes - mixing environmental activism with the possibility to meet new people. The organisation is located all over Japan and slowly spreads towards other countries. Every first and last Sunday of the month, as well as on a few

A visit to the family grave first begins with cleaning the grave stone and grave site. It is particularly important to scour places that easily become dirty such as water basins and flower vases. Older wooden stupas are mindfully removed and disposed of according to temple instructions. Once the

Cleaning can be much more than a “peaceful” activity. Cleanliness is an expression of respect for oneself and others. As a mediator of interpersonal relationships it is an important part of school education in Japan. The aim is to teach the students through cleaning that they can improve their en

To clean is part of most peoples domestic everyday life. In Japan however, employees also clean their office. As a daily routine - and in addition to maintaining a clean environment - cleaning at work is thought of as a way to train intellectual and mental traits. We had the chance to participate

Today (21.01) Shoukei Matsumoto visited us at the Villa Kamogawa. His book was the starting point for us to develop a "Morning Cleaning Ritual". For three months we will get up with the sunrise and start cleaning, bit by bit - our home and who knows maybe in the end our soul. It was a wonderfu

The meeting with Shoukei Matsumoto was followed by a morning cleaning at the Hōnen-in Temple. Together we swept the stairs to remove the leaves, which got stuck between the uneven cobblestones. In peaceful quietness we moved forward, time was flying. I learned a lot these day. While cleaning

We had the wonderful opportunity to clean in the Murin-an garden in Kyoto. Early in the morning after a rainy night the day starting in full sunshine. The place itself is a cultural monument. Its elaborated design plays with perspectives, evoking feeling of depth, revealing new atmospheres and