Japan beat four-time world champions Germany 2-1 (0-1) in their World Cup opener to give Japan a historic victory.
However, instead of going out to party, the Japanese stayed in the stadium to help clean up the filth that is usually picked up by the workers hired for the job. It is known that after football matches, stadium stands are usually filled with plastic packaging and empty cups.
The athletes themselves have also demonstrated that they leave the environment clean and tidy behind them: FIFA posted a photo of the players’ dressing rooms after the match on social media. The team even left a thank you note in Japanese and Arabic, as well as folded paper swans.
The team had neatly folded towels, stacked water bottles and empty food containers on the counter in the center of the stalls.
Fans did the same at the World Cup in Russia four years ago, especially after the defeat against Belgium, when the national team suffered a painful 2-3 defeat, as well as in the opening match of this year’s tournament between hosts home Qatar and Ecuador , although the Japanese soccer team was not even involved in the match.
In Japan, cleanliness is part of the culture and is ingrained in people from an early age.
In 2018, Osaka University sociology professor Scott North told the BBC that cleaning is a way for the Japanese to “show pride in their way of life”.
“Football cleaning is part of the basic education taught in schools, where children clean classrooms and corridors,” he said.
Japan will play their next Group E match against Costa Rica on Sunday.
