Japanese soccer fans once again drew attention for a longstanding World Cup tradition Sunday, remaining in the stands after their team’s match to collect trash and clean up their section at AT&T Stadium.
Supporters of Japan’s national team, known as the Samurai Blue, brought blue bags that served a dual purpose during the Group F match against the Netherlands. The bags were waved throughout the game and became part of the celebration after Japan scored late to secure a 2-2 draw. After the final whistle, the same bags were used to gather litter from the stands.
Japan’s dramatic equalizer came in the 88th minute when Daichi Kamada headed in a corner kick from Koki Ogawa. Earlier in the second half, Keito Nakamura had scored to pull Japan level at 1-1 after the Netherlands took the lead. Dutch goals from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville gave the Netherlands an advantage on two occasions, but Japan responded each time to earn a point in its opening World Cup match.
As fans celebrated the result, many stayed behind to pick up bottles, food wrappers, and other trash left in the seating areas. Videos shared online showed supporters collecting litter throughout the stadium. One clip also showed NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, who is assisting with World Cup broadcast coverage, joining several Japanese fans during the cleanup effort.
The practice has become one of the most recognizable traditions associated with Japanese supporters at international tournaments. Public attention first focused on the cleanup efforts during Japan’s first World Cup appearance in France in 1998. Fans have continued the tradition at every tournament since, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The custom is rooted in a Japanese saying, “Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu,” commonly translated as “return it the way you found it.” The lesson is often taught in elementary schools, where students are expected to clean up after themselves, according to the Associated Press.
“Japanese sports fans at world events who clean up the stadium are behaving much the same way they did when they learned how to enjoy sports as school boys and girls,” Koichi Nakano, who teaches politics and history at Sophia University, told the Associated Press.
One soccer fan participating in the cleanup explained the tradition this way: “That’s the culture. But it’s like respect for everything. Respect for the players, supporters, and also for the stadium. We’re honored to be here, so we don’t want to make a mess and then leave it.”
The cleanup effort stood out at AT&T Stadium, where large crowds typically leave significant amounts of trash behind after major sporting events. By the time the Japanese supporters departed, they had left little evidence of the thousands who had gathered to cheer their team.
The tradition has extended beyond stadium seating in previous tournaments, with Japanese supporters and teams also known for cleaning locker rooms and leaving thank-you notes after matches.
On Sunday, after celebrating a late equalizer and a valuable point in the standings, Japan’s fans once again left behind a different kind of World Cup memory — a clean stadium section.
