I live back and forth bewteen Japan and Canada. My home in Canada is in the city of Saskatoon while my home in Japan is in the city of Tama Plaza, Yokohama. Here's one of my experiences while living here.

Quite a while ago, I talked to someone who said their friend absolutly hated Japan. I asked why, and he replied "She said it smelled horrible". Now, I don't know where that came from since Japan smelled like any other large city I had ever been to. Perhaps this woman was over-sensitive or lived up in the Andes.

But then I realized something... if you walk around Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara or any other number of crowded areas, you do smell something. It's not pleasant, nor is it easy to take in. In fact, it's quite gross and if you had an ill stomach, I'm sure you would woof your cookies on the spot.

I have asked quite a few Japanese residents just what this phenomenon is, and for some reason, none can give me an answer. I finally took to the street myself with the aid of two friends and found out exactly the source.... friends... family... I bring you the smell... garbage. Plain and simple. Garbage, or Gomi as it is called in Japanese, is all over the more central areas, however that is not to say that it is litter. It is simply placed in bags and set outside.

"Why don't those silly Japanese use dumpsters like the rest of us?" one person commented... well simply because there is no room! So it is socially acceptable to place your large bags of trash out along the street. 'Nothing wrong with it, just how it is.

AMAZING!