As thousands of supporters streamed out of the stadium after Japan's emphatic 4-0 victory over Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup 2026, a familiar scene unfolded in the stands.

While celebrations continued outside, many Japanese fans remained in their seats, bending down to collect discarded cups, food wrappers and other litter. Armed with rubbish bags, they worked methodically through the rows, ensuring the venue was left as clean as they had found it.

The gesture once again captured global attention. Images and videos of Japanese supporters cleaning stadiums have become a recurring feature at major sporting events, prompting admiration and curiosity from football fans around the world.

But for many in Japan, the practice is neither extraordinary nor performative. It is simply an extension of values that have been ingrained since childhood.

A habit learned early

Long before Japanese supporters began attracting international headlines at World Cups and Olympic Games, cleanliness was already a routine part of everyday life.

Unlike in many countries, Japanese schoolchildren are responsible for cleaning their classrooms, hallways and shared facilities. From primary school through secondary education, cleaning is built into the daily schedule, teaching students that maintaining communal spaces is a shared responsibility rather than a task delegated to others.

The lesson is reinforced at home, where children are encouraged to tidy up after themselves regardless of gender. Over years of repetition, these behaviours become second nature.

Scott North, professor of sociology at Osaka University, explained to the BBC in 2018, "Cleaning up after football matches is an extension of basic behaviours that are taught in school, where the children clean their school classrooms and hallways.

"With constant reminders throughout childhood, these behaviours become habits for much of the population."

More than courtesy

For Japanese supporters, cleaning up after a match is often viewed as a matter of respect.

After Japan's victory over Tunisia, 30-year-old supporter Ken Okawa said helping to clear rubbish was his way of expressing gratitude to the host nation.

"We are guests in Mexico," he said. "I have been treated wonderfully, so this is my way of showing my appreciation."

The practice is known in Japan as gomi hiroi, or rubbish collection, and reflects a broader belief that people should take responsibility for the spaces they use.

Miku Takeya, 41, said that mindset is deeply rooted in daily life.

"It's a natural part of our culture," she said. "We do this to ensure that everything we use is left clean so that the next person can use it comfortably."

For many Japanese fans, the behaviour is so routine that they are often surprised by the international attention it receives.

"It's common sense in Japan," said Ichiro Oyo, 27.

A cultural philosophy

Underlying these actions is a cultural principle that has long shaped Japanese society.

A popular Japanese saying, "Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu", literally translates as "A bird leaves nothing behind." Its broader meaning encourages people to leave a place in the same condition, or better, than they found it.

The philosophy extends far beyond sporting events. Japanese neighbourhoods frequently organise community clean-up activities, and littering is generally frowned upon socially as well as legally.

As a result, visitors often notice remarkably clean streets despite the relative absence of public rubbish bins in many cities.

Influenced by faith and tradition

Japan's emphasis on cleanliness is also linked to centuries-old religious traditions.

Both Buddhism and Shintoism place importance on purification and cleanliness. When Buddhism spread through Japan between the sixth and eighth centuries, concepts linking cleanliness with discipline and mindfulness became more deeply embedded in society.

Shintoism, Japan's indigenous faith, similarly centres on rituals of purification. Visitors to shrines routinely wash their hands and rinse their mouths before entering sacred spaces, reflecting a belief that physical cleanliness and spiritual purity are closely connected.

For many Japanese people, keeping surroundings clean is therefore not merely practical but also symbolic.

Everyday cleanliness as a way of life

The country's reputation for cleanliness is visible in countless aspects of daily life.

Removing shoes before entering homes remains a common custom, helping prevent dirt and germs from being brought indoors. During illness outbreaks, many people wear face masks to avoid spreading infections, a practice often viewed as a sign of consideration for others.

The same attention to detail is evident in public transport. Japan's famed Shinkansen bullet trains are cleaned by highly coordinated teams in what has become known internationally as the "Seven-Minute Miracle". Entire trains, including hundreds of seats across multiple carriages, are prepared for their next journey in just minutes.

Elsewhere, travellers frequently marvel at spotless streets and clear waterways. In the city of Shimabara, open canals are even home to koi fish, whose survival depends on exceptionally clean, oxygen-rich water.

A tradition that predates social media

Japanese football supporters were first widely noticed cleaning stadiums during the 1998 World Cup in France. Since then, the practice has become a familiar sight at major international tournaments.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japanese fans paused celebrations following their shock victory over Germany to collect litter from the stands. They were also seen cleaning venues after matches in which Japan had not even played.

The pattern has continued in North America during the 2026 tournament. Before their draw with the Netherlands, supporters were spotted tidying sections of the stadium. After the match, they stayed behind to collect rubbish. Reports also noted that members of Japan's national team left their dressing room immaculate.

Ahead of Japan's match against Tunisia, local authorities in Nuevo León reportedly distributed thousands of rubbish bags at the request of Japanese fans, anticipating their desire to continue the tradition.

A reflection of national pride

According to North, the clean-up efforts are about more than keeping venues tidy.

"In addition to their heightened consciousness of the need to be clean and to recycle, cleaning up at events like the World Cup is a way Japanese fans demonstrate pride in their way of life and share it with the rest of us."

That pride has helped transform a simple act into one of the most recognisable traditions in international sport.

While victories and defeats are eventually forgotten, Japan's supporters continue to leave behind a lasting impression, not through chants or celebrations, but by ensuring they leave nothing behind at all.

(With agency inputs)