Why you may see Japanese soccer fans cleaning up the stadium after World Cup games
Japanese soccer fans have a tradition of cleaning up stadiums after World Cup matches, a behavior rooted in their cultural values and socialization from elementary school. The practice is attributed to the Japanese phrase 'Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu,' meaning 'Return it the way you found it.'
Japanese soccer fans are known for cleaning up stadiums after World Cup matches. This tradition started in 1998 during Japan's first World Cup appearance in France and continued in 2022 in Qatar. The behavior is attributed to the cultural values instilled in Japanese students from elementary school, where they are taught to clean up after themselves. The phrase 'Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu' or 'Return it the way you found it' explains this practice. Many Japanese elementary schools do not have janitors, so students are responsible for cleaning up. This cultural norm is also influenced by the concept of 'meiwaku,' or not causing trouble to others. In Japan, a crowded country with around 35 million people in the greater Tokyo area, people are socialized to get along and not inconvenience others. The media praise for their clean-up efforts has reinforced this behavior.
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