Yep, but foreign workers make up the overwhelming majority of janitorial and sanitation employees in Japan [0]. Same with agriculture [1][2][3] and textiles/garments [4].

Look, it may feel shocking to you as a Brit, but yes Japanese work life has become significantly chiller and QoL is better than the UK. They didn't have 15 years of austerity as well as Brexit, and were largely sheltered from the Great Recession and Eurozone crisis due to their trade ties in Asia and North America.

They also invested heavily in automation which meant less hands needed for menial work as well as disinvesting in rural and low population regions (most comments about cleanliness tend to be centered within the richer areas of Tokyo).

[0] - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11130500/001567071.pdf

[1] - https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251121/k00/00m/040/139000c

[2] - https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251121/k00/00m/040/125000c

[3] - https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251121/k00/00m/040/132000c

[4] - https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/seizo_sangyo/text...