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 Japanese phrase 'Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu' or 'Return it the way you found it' explains this practice. In Japan, students often clean their classrooms, and office workers tidy up their areas. The concept of 'meiwaku,' or not causing trouble to others, also plays a role. With a population density like Japan's, people learn to get along and not inconvenience others. The media praise for their clean-up efforts has made it a point of pride for Japanese fans.
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