FROM the nation that gave the world the samurai, ninja and sushi, the Japanese are renowned for their subliminal warrior, epicurean and cultural philosophies.
Hard work, discipline, drive, conscientiousness, initiative, honour and aesthetics of subtle beauty are notable characteristics, but nothing seizes the imagination more than the Japanese fastidiousness for cleanliness.
To say the Japanese are obsessed with cleanliness is an understatement.
In their daily business, cleaning up is a primary predisposition — from personal hygiene to immaculate home, office and eatery maintenance — that traverses beyond the realm of duty.
The ultimate expression of cleanliness is the sight of Japanese fans combing the stadium after a football match, bin liners in hand, and collecting litter.
Cleaning up after the fact is a cornerstone of Japanese spirituality, akin to the reverence religious worshippers show while praying.
They adhere to "kagare", meaning clearing "impurities", a key zeal to cleanse after death and disease, or virtually anything unpleasant.
Their housekeeping, regardless whether it's an office or a "yatai" (hawker stall), adopts standardised and sustained cleaning, so the psyche endures.
The Japanese "osouji", meaning "big year-end cleaning", clears dirt and dust, literally and figuratively, banishing old problems and thinking while reprising a clean slate for a clutter-free environment.
These innate habits resonate in Japanese corporate, technological and artisan cultures, principles that codified Malaysia's Look East policy for industrial progress.
Japanese children are drilled on the religiosity of cleanliness and eating highly nutritious food.
A minority of Malaysians do emulate the Japanese approach earnestly, matching them in seamless standards.
The majority, however, insult this habit by disposing of rubbish on roadsides, highways, pavements, homes and offices, exacerbated by pollution in waterways, rivers, lakes and seas.
It's incorrigible how many Malaysians dispose of their rubbish, as if the whole country is a contiguous landfill.
The principles of cleanliness are not ingrained in popular culture, often dismissed despite decades of campaigns and strict anti-littering regulations.
So, it was pleasantly surprising when participants in the National Day parade in Putrajaya adopted the Japanese convention, demonstrating admirable civic responsibility by holding on to their trash, ensuring the boulevard remained litter-free.
As expected, the cleaning crew managed the waste after the parade ended, but paid responsibility doesn't really count.
While we hope that this cleanliness mindset continues, the prospects, at best, remain a promise, and at worst, are merely a matter of time before littering returns.
The Putrajaya episode shouldn't be a one-off occurrence.
Similarly, cleaning campaigns often receive enthusiastic initial support but ultimately fail to sustain momentum throughout the year.