KYODO NEWS - Dec 20, 2019 - 14:20 | All, Japan

Window cleaners dressed as a boar and a rat -- the respective Chinese zodiac animals for 2019 and 2020 in Japan -- played their part ahead of the traditional yearend cleanup, scrubbing windows at a high-rise hotel in Tokyo.

The pair worked side by side, impressing young children watching from inside the building as they dangled 55 meters above people making their way across a zebra crossing on the busy street below.

The window cleaners posed for photos and spoke to the media at the promotional event to celebrate the yearend at the 15-story Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo. The rat spoke of his hopes for the Olympic Games being hosted by the Japanese capital next year.

"The eyes of the world will be on Japan. I hope the athletes will perform with passion so you won't be able to take your eyes off the competition for a minute."

This year saw Japan enter the new Reiwa Era as Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne.

The Brave Blossoms reaching the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup for the first time was another 2019 highlight and gave Japan a welcome lift after two deadly typhoons wreaked havoc on wide areas of the country.