More Than Just Cleaning: What Japanese Students Learn by Cleaning Their Classrooms
One of the most distinctive and often misunderstood traditions in Japanese schools is o-soji, the daily cleaning routine carried out by students themselves. While this practice frequently garners attention abroad, it’s far more than a cultural curiosity. In Japan, it’s seen as a vital part of a child’s education.
Contrary to popular belief, Japanese schools do have janitors, known as shuji. These staff members handle maintenance and more intensive cleaning tasks, things like plumbing, floor waxing, or large repairs. But when it comes to the everyday tidying of classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces, that responsibility falls to the students.
After lunch, the school day shifts into cleaning mode. For about 20 minutes, students grab brooms, dustpans, and rags to clean their designated areas. Often, cheerful marching music or classical tunes play over the PA system, a lighthearted backdrop to the routine known affectionately as “the o-soji song.” This happens four days a week, with Wednesdays and Saturdays usually free of cleaning duties. At the end of each term, students do a more intensive “big cleaning” called osoji.
Each class is responsible for cleaning its room and two additional areas, such as the library or the nurse’s office. To manage the work, the class is divided into small teams called han, with each group assigned to a specific task. The system isn’t just about cleanliness; it’s meant to teach cooperation, responsibility, and respect for shared environments.
Educators and parents alike see o-soji as a key part of character development. Children learn that it’s easier not to make a mess when you’re the one who has to clean it. More importantly, they develop a sense of care for their surroundings and for the people who share them.
In many schools, this spirit of mutual care extends across age groups. It’s common for sixth-graders to help first-graders clean their classrooms, reinforcing mentorship and empathy. This is especially valuable in a country where many children grow up as only children.
Some schools even take the lesson beyond campus. A few times a year, students from third grade and up participate in a neighborhood cleanup. Wearing cotton gloves and armed with age-appropriate cleaning tools, they head out to collect litter around the school grounds. While not all schools still do this, many educators are calling for its revival, especially amid rising concerns about teenage littering.
Sometimes, students clean the toilets. While some schools leave that task to the janitorial staff, others assign it to older students, usually in fifth or sixth grade.
To outsiders, it might seem odd to dedicate school time to cleaning. But in Japan, it’s considered just as important as any academic subject. Through these simple daily routines, students aren’t just tidying up; they’re learning to take ownership, build community, and develop the kind of self-awareness that lasts far beyond the classroom.
