The Japanese audience is known for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship at every tournament or match they attend, as well as for their practice of cleaning their stands before leaving the stadium. This positive phenomenon has also been adopted by Indonesian and South Korean fans during the AFC Asian Cup football tournament held in Qatar.
Despite the 2-1 defeat against Iran and their exit from the quarter-final stage of the competition, Japan, the top contender for the title, along with the team coach, did not abandon their admirable customs. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu joined the players after the match at the Education City Stadium to greet and apologize to the audience for the loss and elimination.
Moreover, contrary to expectations, the supporters did not criticize their team even after their performance declined in the second half of the match. On the contrary, they applauded the team and waited until almost everyone had left the stands before organizing a systematic effort to collect garbage in large blue bags. This civilized display of cleanliness was particularly notable as it followed a defeat and exit from a major tournament.
Al Jazeera witnessed a segment of the stadium-cleaning process and spoke to a Japanese fan named Tatsuro, a cheerful electronics engineer from Tokyo, who explained that cleaning the stands is a habitual practice he learned during his school days and has carried forward into his professional life.
The Japanese journalist Korokawa Turo further explained that the emphasis on cleanliness and sportsmanship is ingrained in the upbringing of children in Japan. This cultural value has become a way of life for the Japanese people, transcending not only football and sports but also permeating their private and public lives.
Similarly, the photojournalist Kazikuro affirmed that the sportsmanship of their audience distinguishes the Japanese, underscoring their respect for cleanliness. This characteristic is not limited to sports events but is also prevalent in Japanese society at social and political levels. Mutual respect is pervasive in Japan, with no incidents of hooliganism occurring in their stadiums.
Said Kamal, a Emirati photojournalist, supported Kazikuro’s comments, citing experiences of witnessing stadium cleaning by South Korean and Indonesian fans during the current AFC Asian Cup. He emphasized the worldwide fame of Japan owing to their conduct at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, captured by cameras and broadcast to the world.
Additionally, South Korean journalist Mangga explained that cleanliness is a part of the culture not only for the Japanese people but also for the majority of East Asian nations, including his own country. He affirmed that the Korean audience has also been cleaning stadiums for a long time, though this has not garnered the same attention as in Japan.
Mohamed Karizi, a journalist for the Iraqi sports channel Rudaw, praised the Japanese people as organized and civilized, highlighting their conduct after matches. He expressed hope for the dissemination of the same sportsmanship and moral values to Arab and Qatari societies, as “their stadiums are our stadiums and must be preserved.”
In conclusion, the Japanese national team also participates in cleaning their dressing room after every match, a practice in place since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Kimama, the team’s photographer, confirmed that this cleaning ritual, including the team members and staff, extends to the players’ workplace on the stadium grounds, even after a defeat.
