Japan and its people continue to give the world reasons to admire them. Recently, viral videos showed Japanese supporters cleaning stands and collecting trash into bags after a match. ESPN FC shared a photo on social media, highlighting a tradition that Japanese football fans have followed for years.
The Ritual of Cleaning
After Japan's 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, fans wearing national team jerseys stayed behind to carefully pick up cups, wrappers, and other waste from their section. While most spectators left, these fans ensured the area was clean.
This practice dates back to 1998 when Japan first played in the World Cup in France. After the game, Japanese supporters were seen tidying up the stadium before leaving. Four years ago, at the Qatar World Cup, fans of the Samurai Blue paused their celebration after a 2-1 victory over Germany to clean up. Over the years, this has become an expected sight at international events, including the Olympics and Under-20 games.
Not Just Fans
According to pictures shared online, Japan's national team also left their locker room spotless, folding towels, packing bottles, and cleaning shelves. This behavior is rooted in Japanese philosophy.
Japanese Philosophy Behind the Cleanliness
The answer lies in the Japanese saying: Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu, meaning "A bird leaves nothing behind." The overall message is to return things as you found them.
Scott North, a sociology professor at Osaka University, explained that cleaning up after football matches is an extension of basic behavior taught in schools, where children clean their classrooms and hallways. This practice, known as 'o-soji', takes place before recess and lasts about 20 minutes.
Japan also has relatively few public dustbins, encouraging people to carry waste home. In offices, workers routinely clean their workspaces, reinforcing personal responsibility. "With constant reminders throughout childhood, these behaviors become habits for much of the population," North told the BBC in 2018. He added that by cleaning at events, Japanese fans demonstrate pride in their culture and share it with the world.
Another concept is Meiwaku, which means avoiding causing inconvenience to others. Leaving a stadium dirty would be seen as causing problems. For fans, this behavior is 'atarimae', meaning obvious. Japanese society is built on respect, politeness, and giving back to society.
Koichi Nakano, a politics and history professor at Sophia University, told The Associated Press: "Japanese sports fans at world events who clean up the stadium are behaving much the same way they did when they learned how to enjoy sports as schoolboys and girls. The emphasis is not just on physical education but also on moral education."
Social Media Praise
People online praised the gesture, calling for it to become a global ritual. One user wrote: "We are so unserious and undisciplined here in the US. We can all do better." Another added: "How refreshing to see that citizens of some countries actually have respect for public or private property." Others commented: "This world doesn't deserve the Japanese" and "I hope other countries start doing the same."
