Argus News - Japan Fans Wins Heart after Win over England at Wembley

London, Apr 1: Japanese football fans earned widespread praise for their class and respect after tidying up the away section at Wembley following their team’s 1-0 victory over England.

Kaoru Mitoma’s composed 23rd‑minute strike, assisted by Keito Nakamura, proved decisive in a competitive friendly where England dominated possession (70%) and shots (19‑7) but failed to create big chances.

Japan’s disciplined defence, led by Shogo Taniguchi, produced 36 clearances and 18 tackles, with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki making three saves. Ayase Ueda struck the woodwork and Yukinari Sugawara cleared off the line to preserve the lead.

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The Samurai Blue’s victory gave Thomas Tuchel a headache ahead of naming his 26‑man squad for the FIFA World Cup in the United States.

‘Classy’ & ‘Respectful’ Act

Yet it was the fans who stole headlines afterward. Wembley’s official social media shared footage of Japanese supporters collecting litter, captioned “Thank you.”

One fan remarked, “Coming to our country, beating us up, and then still cleaning for us? Damn. That’s some sort of respect. Thank you Japan and respect.” Another added, “The Japanese are among the most humble people in the world. Respect.” A third wrote, “It’s called respect, we can learn a lot from them.”

This behaviour is not new. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japanese fans also cleaned up after their team’s landmark 2-1 win over Germany.

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Cleanliness is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, instilled from childhood. Scott North, professor of sociology at Osaka University, explained to the BBC in 2018 that tidying is a way of “demonstrating pride in the Japanese way of life.”

He added that cleaning up after matches extends from basic behaviours taught in schools, where children clean classrooms and hallways.