While the ongoing 新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大 (shingata korona uirusu no kansen kakudai, spread of infection of the novel coronavirus) has (a little paradoxically, perhaps) forced many of us to 外出自粛 (gaishutsu jishuku, voluntarily refrain from going out), this increased time spent within has had one very small, Marie Kondo-shaped silver lining: decluttering our homes. In my case, that means getting rid of some 粗大ごみ/大型ごみ (sodai gomi/ōgata gomi, lit. “large garbage”).

粗大ごみ is anything over 30 centimeters — though not over 180 cm, unless the item can be broken down — in length on any side. Note that this is a very general definition; some areas, such as Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, have a limit of 220 cm, and some, like Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, even differentiate between electrical and nonelectrical goods, with a starting point of 30 cm for the former, and 50 cm for the latter.

Whatever the exact size, 家具 (kagu, furniture), 電気製品 (denki seihin, electronics) and other 私物 (shibutsu, personal belongings) are definitely included in 粗大ごみ.