Japan fans left the stands spotless after their World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Texas on Sunday, saying it was “Japanese culture” to tidy up after themselves.
Spectators stayed behind after the 2-2 draw to make sure they left the stadium as they found it, meticulously picking up litter and stuffing it into blue plastic bags.
It is a habit first learned at primary school and Japan fan Eita Tanaka told AFP that “we have to think about everyone”.
“Japanese people think that when we use a certain place, we were told that you have to make that place look tidier when you leave than it was when you arrived,” said the 20-year-old, clasping a beer and a couple of cups, and wearing Japan’s blue shirt.
“For example, at school in our classrooms we tidy it up after ourselves without our teacher telling us.”
Japan are appearing at their eighth straight World Cup and their fans’ cleanliness has become their international calling card.
NFL quarterback Jameis Winston could even be seen joining in the clean-up after Sunday’s game, wearing a blue Japan shirt with his name on the back.
Japan fan Futo Hagiwara said he was proud that the behaviour of his countrymen had been recognised in a positive light.
“This is our culture, that means everywhere we go we need to clean it after ourselves, it’s our spiritual way, our attitude,” he said.
Sociologist and philosopher Masachi Ohsawa believes a mix of social responsibility and peer pressure is behind the fans’ behaviour.
“While Japanese people tend not to take much interest in justice on a large scale — issues like global inequality, conflict or climate change — they are extremely sensitive to moral considerations on a smaller scale,” he said.
“When it comes to people who they share the same space with or have direct personal contact with, they feel a strong desire not to cause them any trouble or make them feel uncomfortable.”