Japan left origami cranes, spotless dressing room after epic World Cup win
Japan is proving to be a winner on and off the field at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
On Wednesday, Japan upset Germany 2-1 in their opening match — a critical victory as their group also contains another traditional powerhouse, Spain.
But what the Japanese players and their fans are doing off the field is also generating international headlines.
Japan left their dressing room in Doha positively spotless.
They even folded their towels, stacking them in a neat pile.
After an historic victory against Germany at the #FIFAWorldCup on Match Day 4, Japan fans cleaned up their rubbish in the stadium, whilst the @jfa_samuraiblue left their changing room at Khalifa International Stadium like this. Spotless.
Domo Arigato.👏🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/NuAQ2xrwSI
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 23, 2022
“The [Japanese men’s national soccer team] left their changing room at Khalifa International Stadium like this. Spotless,” FIFA.com posted on their official Twitter account. “Domo Arigato.”
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the team also left behind 11 origami cranes and a thank you note.
“With gratitude,” the team said on Twitter, translated from Japanese.
感謝のきもちを込めて⚽
🇯🇵 #𝑂𝑅𝐼𝐺𝐴𝑀𝐼🔷#SAMURAIBLUE #worldcup #FIFAWorldCup https://t.co/eSP0VkpTmw— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 【11.17(木)】vs 🇨🇦【11.23(水)】vs 🇩🇪 (@jfa_samuraiblue) November 24, 2022
While Japan’s players and staff were tidying up their dressing room, Japanese fans stayed behind to help throw away trash, using plastic garbage bags they brought themselves — just as they did for the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.
After their shocking win against Germany, Japan fans stayed after the match to clean up the stadium.
Respect ❤️👏 @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/ocDtsyXXXB
— ESPN (@espn) November 23, 2022
HUGE RESPECT KEPADA SUPPORTERS JEPANG 🙌
Pungut sampah di stadion selesai nonton negara mereka 👍
Salama One Two wkwkk :v #FIFAWorldCup #Japan#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/o4tZMHy541
— 12 (@f12xos) November 24, 2022
Following their historical win over Germany, Japan fans stayed to clean up the stadium ❤️👏 #SamuraiBlue pic.twitter.com/ABogrUVDjg
— FCB One Touch (@FCB_OneTouch) November 23, 2022
“Many of us Japanese are delighted to be able to come to this stadium. And at this stadium, we witnessed a miracle,” responded one fan from Japan. “As a fan who was able to come, it’s only natural for me to leave such a miraculous place clean. And the miracle players are the same.”
“The Japanese national team and their supporters have always been called good losers, but this time they are good winners,” another fan from Japan responded. “There is a Japanese proverb, ‘When I leave, I will return more beautiful than when I came.’ This proverb comes from the Bushido spirit.”
The most organized celebrating in Tokyo after Japan beat Germany.
Fans rush Shibuya Crossing but responsibly return to sidewalks when cars have to drive. pic.twitter.com/bkAKS59CK0
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) November 23, 2022
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