Japan's railways are famous for their timekeeping accuracy. That would be indispensable (note 1) for the efforts of those involved in the railway industry. Cleaning the ship is also one of them.
Take the Shinkansen case. With a 16-car train, there are 55 people in charge, including taking out trash and cleaning toilets. A carriage (63–100 seats) is usually staffed by two people. Duration is 10–12 minutes. Being late bothers passengers and delays departure time.
The person in charge enters the carriage and first collects plastic bottles (note 2) and empty cans, and removes the white cloth covering the back of the seat (note 3). Next rotate the chair back to its original position and install the new fabric. Use a broom to clean the chair and wipe the armrests (note 4). Use a mirror to check if there are any forgotten items on the shelf. Finally sweep the floor. Everything must be completed within the specified time.
Yasujiki-san started this job 12 years ago as a part-time job (uncle 5); Previously, I was a housewife so I realized this was completely different from cleaning the house. So, on my day off, I set up chairs in my living room and set a timer to practice. After 2 years, you don't need to look at the clock to know how much time is left. After that, his ability was recognized so he became an official employee, in the 8th year he became a team leader, and now he is a manager and directs 550 people.
In the past, there was a time when a storm delayed the Shinkansen, leaving cleaning time only 4 minutes. What minimum work must be done — Yasujiki-san suppressed the feeling of insecurity, gathered the staff in charge and gave meticulous instructions. ①The joy when the train departs on time is unforgettable.
It is thanks to so many people that ②the railway runs on time. (According to Asahi newspaper, afternoon edition, September 5, 2011)