In Japan, people usually clean their house thoroughly at the end of the year. They clean the parts of the house that usually don’t get cleaned regularly such as door screens, window sashes, and the space behind the refrigerator. This doesn’t happen in winter in North America and European countries. Instead, people wait until the weather gets warmer. That’s why it is called spring cleaning. People also change the clothes at this time of year. My sister is doing that right now. She is putting away the boots and sweaters and taking out the warm-weather clothes. The same thing happens in Japan. It’s called “koromogae.” My wife took out our summer clothes last month, and we are still trying to get rid of the things we no longer need. That is the most difficult part!     (135 words)