Japanese fans clean up trash after the match, continuing a tradition at the World Cup
Japanese soccer fans continue the tradition of cleaning up after matches, showing courtesy and respect for the environment, even after a dramatic draw with the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Japanese soccer fans are famous around the world for their habit of cleaning the soccer field before leaving, and this was no different after the dramatic 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at the World Cup. Just minutes after Daichi Kamada equalized, Japanese fans began cleaning up the space around them at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, picking up trash and putting it in the large plastic bags they had brought with them to the match.
Japanese fans are known for this habit, and The Athletic spoke to some of them as part of a series on The Language of Football ahead of this World Cup. "We were very polite," said Kayo Kita, a Japanese fan living in New York. "We don't shout against the other team. For example, I attended the friendly match against Mexico in Oakland (California) last September. We became friends with the Mexican fans. Of course, we fight on the field, but we also connect with the opponent. That's what the Japanese fans bring.
"But at the same time, we don't want our fans to think they're just coming to clean up the stadium. We came here to win, you know? I don't want Japanese fans to become famous just because of that."
This habit is not new. Japanese fans became famous for their clean-up action at the 2018 World Cup in Russia — even after suffering a painful defeat that ended their run at the tournament. They were eliminated in the final minute of their round of 16 match against Belgium, despite leading by two goals. After that match, the Japanese players also left their dressing room surprisingly clean, with a handwritten note saying "thank you" in Russian. The same thing happened four years later in Qatar, where Japan claimed some famous victories, against Germany and Spain, as they topped Group E.
"For the Japanese, this is just a normal thing to do," said Hajime Moriyasu, coach of the 2022 team. "When you leave a place, you must leave it cleaner than when you arrived."
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