Japanese football fans continued their tradition of cleaning up the stadium after their national team’s first match at the current World Cup, transforming blue plastic flags into trash bags to collect litter. This practice, which has become an international trademark, was first observed during the 1998 World Cup in France.
On Sunday, June 14, following a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, fans filled these bags with all the trash left in their sections, leaving the stands spotlessly clean. According to fans, cleaning is an integral part of Japanese culture. Futo Hagiwara stated that “cleaning is our culture, spiritual approach, and our stance,” expressing pride in such collective behavior.
Origins of the Tradition and Japanese Education
Eita Tanaka, a 20-year-old fan in a blue Japanese team jersey, explained to AFP that the Japanese are taught to leave a place cleaner than it was before they arrived. He said that in Japanese schools, students clean their classrooms on their own without teachers’ instructions. Chores are part of Japanese education from an early age, and children witness how they wash floors and tables in schools every day.
This tradition is also supported by the characteristics of the urban environment: public trash cans in Japan are rare, so people are compelled to take their trash home. Disposing of household waste in public places is a challenging task.
Social Responsibility and Group Pressure
Sociologist and philosopher Masachi Osawa believes that the behavior of the fans can be explained by a combination of social responsibility and group pressure. He notes that the Japanese are generally not very interested in global issues such as world inequality or conflicts, but are extremely sensitive to minor moral considerations. Osawa argues that when Japanese people interact with others in the same space or have direct personal contact, they have a strong desire not to create problems or discomfort for them.
Scott North, an honorary professor of sociology at Osaka University, who has lived in Japan for about 40 years, points out that Japanese fan groups are organized with leaders and followers. He explains that since everyone gathers together, they are expected to act as a group. According to North, when leaders take out bags and say “Let’s go”, no one will refuse. Masachi Osawa insists that in Japan, as soon as one person starts picking up trash, those around them feel compelled to follow. He clarifies that the main motivation for cleaning is not so much the desire to keep the stadium clean, but the desire not to be perceived as a source of inconvenience within their own group.
The behavior of Japanese fans is inspiring others: Jamieis Winston, the quarterback of the American football team New York Giants, was seen joining Japanese fans after Sunday’s match, wearing a blue Japanese jersey with his name on the back. The Japanese national team, which is participating in its eighth World Cup, will continue to clean up as long as they remain in the tournament. The team’s next match will take place on Saturday against Tunisia in Mexico.
Source: Libération