When I think of the end of the year in Japan, I think of the major cleanup that most people do at home and at work. It is called spring cleaning in English because people usually do it when the weather gets warmer in the spring. In Japan, people do it in December. This custom probably goes back to the Heian period when they had a special cleaning day called “Susubarai no Hi.” Yesterday, we cleaned one center at Fujimae Tidal Flat. There were 10 of us. I spent the morning washing the large windows that look out over the tidal flat. By the end of the day, the center was clean and ready for 2025. Then, we followed the cleanup with one of my favorite Japanese traditions, the year-end party. (131 words)