Commentary: Still awed by Japanese football fans picking up rubbish? It says more about us than we think

SINGAPORE: On Monday (Dec 5), Japan bowed out of the World Cup in Qatar with a heartbreaking loss on penalties to Croatia. Though their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time was thwarted, the Samurai Blue had impressed with their lung-bursting heroics on the pitch.

Off the pitch, Japan supporters too were winning the hearts of fans around the world. Incredulous football fans were awed by videos on social media of Japanese fans picking up rubbish in the stadium post-game – even in matches where their team was not playing.

After their loss to Croatia, where they might have been forgiven for leaving their trash behind with their broken dreams, Japanese fans still cleaned up after themselves while wiping away their tears.

Perhaps this might be new to those who haven’t followed them, but Japanese fans have always been known to be great travelling supporters. In 2014, after the Samurai Blue lost 4-0 in an international friendly against Brazil at the Singapore Sports Hub, the Japanese fans left their seats spick and span.

So if this isn’t new, why are we still so taken by it? It says more about us than we think: Japanese fans remind us of what we would like to do, but often don’t.

Even if we take what is said on camera and on social media with a healthy pinch of salt, these fans said it so matter-of-factly - and through their actions - that I believe them.

My friend, veteran diplomat Professor Tommy Koh, has mentioned the Japanese (among others) multiple times before while talking about creating a First World civic society. They have pristine public toilets; they do not litter – and more so, they pick up litter and confront litterbugs.

I’d like to take it a bit further and to say that it isn’t just respect for the