It was a cloudy afternoon in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest areas, and a team of city officials was on high alert. They scanned the crowds, looking to catch anyone littering and to deliver on-the-spot fines — part of a new campaign to encourage better behavior among visitors.When an unassuming tourist discarded a small piece of paper on the ground, the officials pounced. Holding a binder of notices and a payment terminal, they fined him ¥2,000, or about $12.50. As his friends laughed, the tourist shook his head and pulled out his wallet. The entire encounter lasted about three minutes.In Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s 23 wards, dropping trash now comes with a price tag. As of June 1, litterbugs face immediate fines under a new ordinance. The rules are meant to help combat a surge in littering, officials say, as Japan has welcomed a record number of tourists over the past few years.
On patrol with Tokyo’s new litter police
It was a cloudy afternoon in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest areas, and a team of city officials was on high alert. They scanned the crowds, looking to catch anyone littering and to deliver on-the-spot fines — part of a new campaign to encourage better behavior among visitors.When an unassuming tour
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