Cleaning Festival "Kirei-1 Grand Prix 2026" to be Held in Saitama on May 29

— Transforming a job once called "3K" into one that "protects cleanliness, contributes, and is appreciated" —

2025 Tournament Group Photo

The cleaning festival aims to update the industry's "3K" (Kitsui - tough, Kitanai - dirty, Kiken - dangerous) image. For three hours, participants will compete in "sweeping," discuss "reporting," and communicate the value of cleaning to society. This year, elite teams from multiple companies will participate in the first joint tournament. Furthermore, high school students from Kawaguchi Technical High School's cleaning club, national champions of "SpoGOMI Koshien 2025" and local to Saitama, will also step onto the same court as professionals to challenge them in a serious competition.

The winner will be awarded a special broom adorned with Nishijin-ori, the "Championship Broom Flag."

[Mission of this Tournament]

The cleaning industry, which supports the "cleanliness" of buildings and facilities, is currently facing a severe labor shortage and an aging workforce. The old industry image of "3K" (tough, dirty, dangerous) is hindering the entry of young workers. If there are no people to maintain the cleanliness of facilities, garbage bins will overflow, toilets will be dirty and smelly, not only damaging the scenery but also leading to a serious decline in hygiene. This tournament aims to shed light on this unpopular industry, transforming "tough" into "contributing," "dirty" into "protecting cleanliness," and "dangerous" into "being appreciated." It is held to redefine the work for those on the front lines as a "job they can continue with pride."

Scenes from the 2025 Tournament

The "Kirei-1 Grand Prix Executive Committee" (Chairman: Noriyuki Suzuki, Secretariat: within Tatemono Service Co., Ltd.) will hold the "3rd Kirei-1 Grand Prix 2026," a festival of cleaning technology, on Friday, May 29, 2026, ahead of "Zero Waste Day" on May 30, at Saitama City Cultural Center Shiragi Hall (Minami Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture).

One of the objectives of this tournament is to confront the severe labor shortage and the long-standing "3K" industry image, to re-evaluate the value of cleaning work with society, and to connect this to securing human resources.

Through three major programs that are fun to watch, learn from, and enjoy—a tournament competing in the basic cleaning skill of "sweeping," a "Report Award" where AI insights are also incorporated into discussions based on cleaning reports, and a participatory "Cleaning AI Quiz"—the event will widely disseminate the industry's appeal and social significance. The winner of the Zero Waste category will receive a special "Championship Broom Flag" made with Kyoto's Nishijin-ori. The MC will be impressionist comedian BB Goro.

[Background of the Event] Is the cleaning industry okay remaining "3K"?

Office buildings, commercial facilities, hospitals, schools, stations, homes—

Our daily lives and economic activities cannot be sustained without the cleaning workers who support their "cleanliness" every day. Nevertheless, the cleaning industry is still often described by the "tough, dirty, dangerous"—the so-called "3K" image. As a result, chronic and severe labor shortages, an aging workforce, and a decline in young entrants continue unabated. If left unaddressed, the hygienic environment of buildings will become unsustainable, leading to an increased risk of infectious diseases, a decrease in the asset value of facilities, deterioration of urban landscapes, and the very "safe society" itself may be shaken.

The "Kirei-1 Grand Prix" was launched in 2024 with this sense of crisis as its starting point. It focuses on "sweeping," the basic of cleaning, competing in skills, discussing reports, and competing with AI in wisdom.

By "visualizing and celebrating" a "modest and often unseen job," it creates a place for those working on the front lines to regain pride and serves as an opportunity for younger generations and those from other industries to enter.

This 3rd installment has evolved into an industry-wide event. Multiple companies and organizations are joining hands to deliver the message that "cleaning is not 3K, but a job of skill, wisdom, and pride" to society with a louder voice.

Four Pillars of this Tournament:

❶ Energize the industry (boost morale on site as a festival)

❷ Re-evaluate the value of work (visualize skills, reports, and knowledge)

❸ Update the "3K" image (to a job that protects cleanliness, contributes, and is appreciated)

❹ Lead to securing human resources (convey appeal to students, young people, and those from other industries)

[Three Highlight Programs]

*Program content may change

Program 1: Zero Waste 2026 Championship Tournament

Scenes from the 2025 Tournament

In a 2m x 2m court, using only a broom and dustpan, participants compete in a 1-on-1 tournament to sweep up a total of 53 pieces of garbage (marbles, sponges, origami, rubber balls) faster than their opponent. Speed is important, but penalties are incurred if garbage or the body goes outside the court, so carefulness also determines victory.

There will be "Dominant Hand Division" and "Non-Dominant Hand Division," with the true "Japan's Best Sweeper" decided in a Grand Champion showdown between the winners of both divisions. By shining a light on an ordinary task and creating a "place to celebrate" on-site skills, cleaning work will be transformed into a job that "contributes" and "is appreciated."

★Grand Champion receives a special Nishijin-ori from Kyoto.