Tribune News Network
Doha
Japanese fans further cemented their reputation as one of the politest sets of supporters at World Cups as they were filmed tidying up Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor after the Qatar 2022 opener between Ecuador and the hosts on Sunday evening.
Bahraini Video Creator Omar Farooq caught the Japanese football fans in action after the match had ended, saying he was “blown away.
When asked why they were cleaning up, one Japanese woman answered: “Japanese never leave rubbish behind, we respect the place.”
Another Japanese man explained that they did not clean up “for the cameras,” but rather out of respect.
This is not the first time Japanese football fans made headlines during the FIFA World Cup for their respect, organization, and cleanliness.
Fack in 2018, during a Japan match against Colombia, people around the globe were impressed by the Japanese people’s respect for the Russian stadium and their readiness to clean up after the game.
The fans were ready and equipped with large trash bags and went straight to sweeping their seats and everything around them, leaving the place just as neat as they found it.
Similarly, in 2014, Japanese fans did the same thing at a Brazil stadium, after the Japan National Football team was defeated by the Ivory Coast.
This practice is not only part of football culture for the fans, it is part of Japanese culture.