Guadalupe, Mexico – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Friday that he was proud that the country’s fans had forged a global reputation for tidying up after themselves at the World Cup — as long as it does not put cleaners out of work.
Footage went viral online after Japan supporters were seen putting their trash in blue plastic bags following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Texas.
The fans said it was “Japanese culture” to leave any public place cleaner than when they arrived.
“I think this is one part of the Japanese culture that we can be proud of in the world,” Moriyasu said on the eve of Japan’s second group game, against Tunisia on Saturday in Mexico.
It extends to his players, who left the changing room at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium immaculate after the game.
But Moriyasu said there was a possible downside.
“I have met Brazilian players, Brazilian coaches and people from different countries and then they would all point out something different,” he said.
“They said, by picking up people’s garbage it would be clean, but wouldn’t you be taking away the work from the cleaners?
“So I guess that is one way of looking at it.”
And while images of Japan fans cleaning up gained widespread praise abroad, back in Japan a social media post went viral complaining men rarely do the same at home.
“Japanese men spend among the least time on housework internationally,” read the post.
“Please do it at home,” it added.
AloJapan.com