Today, June 8, is Chiyoda Ward Simultaneous Cleanup Day. That afternoon the rainy-season onset for the Kanto-Koshin region was announced. It was not exactly a “last-minute” dash before the rains, but the morning felt like good cleaning weather. At Palaceside Building we picked litter along the Uchibori-dori sidewalks and plantings, working up a sweat (photo above).
Cleanup days are held every June and November under the Chiyoda Living Environment Ordinance. Palaceside Building, agreeing with the aim of residents and workers making the streets they live on
beautiful, tidies the surroundings early each time.
This time too, not only building staff but many tenants joined—about 120 in all. At 8:00 a.m. we gathered before the west entrance on the Takebashi crossing side. After receiving work gloves, litter tongs and bags, we fanned out around the building. For 30 to 40 minutes we sweated.
Regular large groups include 45 from NTT Business Associe (matching yellow fluorescent windbreakers) and affiliate NTT Business Associe Partners (orange windbreakers), and about 40 from FamilyMart in matching black jumpers. Many companies and shops send just one person; we can only admire the volunteer spirit.
Besides the building’s outer ring, including under the Metropolitan Expressway (photos at left and above), some groups “expeditioned” to the Nihonbashi-gawa and the far bank at Hitotsubashi. Paper,
plastic bags, wood chips, cigarette butts, empty cans and PET bottles were piled before the main entrance (photo at right): seven ordinary 45-liter bags, one bulky-waste bag and two of bottles and cans—ten in all.
To everyone who took part, thank you very much. (●＾o＾●)