▲ Blue trash bags gathered throughout the stands
The long-standing Japanese tradition of tidying up the stands and their seating areas after a match continued at this World Cup as well.
Like a deeply ingrained habit, the players cleaned the locker room, and the fans gathered and organized their trash.
Japan drew 2-2 against the Netherlands in their Group F opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Dallas Stadium in Texas, USA, on June 15 (KST).
As the final whistle blew, Japanese fans remained in the stands and pulled out blue trash bags, just as they have always done.
The blue bags, the color symbolizing Japanese soccer, were used as cheering tools during the match before returning to their original purpose afterward.
France's AFP news agency reported on this scene in detail.
The media outlet described the atmosphere, stating, "Japanese fans silently picked up empty cups and food waste left scattered throughout the stands."
One Japanese fan said, "This is by no means an act to show off to anyone. Cleaning up the place where you stayed is just a very natural courtesy learned from childhood."
Another fan added, "The 2-2 draw result has nothing to do with us picking up trash."
The team also upheld the familiar tradition.
AFP reported, "The Japanese national team's locker room was perfectly organized, with only paper cranes left behind after the players departed."
A Japanese national team official explained to the media, "This is our own quiet way of expressing gratitude to the organizers for allowing us to use the stadium."
Such behavior stems from Japan's unique educational culture, which teaches children to clean school facilities, including classrooms, themselves from a young age.
As this scene has been reported several times through past international tournaments, it has now become quite a familiar sight to soccer fans around the world.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.