Japanese fans clean the stadium after the match – Corriere.it

Japan’s feat from other times, capable of overturning Germany in this World debut. But it is, once again, the Japanese fans who surprise everyone. Because they didn’t leave the stadium right away. They have once again cleaned the stands. A gesture of great civility and perhaps now it is the supporters of the National team of the Rising Sun who are surprised to make headlines for a simple but also rare gesture. So after the beautiful victory, happy with what they saw on the field, they delayed their exit to clean up everything and collect all kinds of litter. But not the first time. It also happened on Sunday 20 November, when some Japanese fans attended the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt stadium. For them it is a sign of respect.

In Russia 2018, for example, after the excruciating defeat suffered in the last seconds against Belgium in the round of 16 (July 2, 3-2 with a goal in the 94th minute from Chadli), the Japanese fans amazed everyone, earning the respect of millions of people for having cleaned up the Rostov Arena. A year later, in 2019, they showed their class again at Roazhon Park after a 2-1 win against Scotland in the Women’s World Cup. An incredible habit, an education that truly goes beyond any kind of imagination. In 2018, the Japanese sports journalist, Scott McIntyre, explained to the BBC microphones the reasons for this gesture: It is not only part of football culture, but also part of Japanese culture. We often hear that football is a reflection of culture. It is an important aspect of Japanese society to make sure that everything is absolutely clean and this is the case at all sporting events and certainly also in football. And so they always win wonderfully.