Japanese football fans' stadium tidiness sparks debate on domestic chores

Japanese football fans have gone viral once again for tidying up the stadium after their team’s World Cup match against the Netherlands this week, only to prompt a meme criticising the country’s men for not applying the same standards of behaviour while at home.

A spoof of a train etiquette poster contrasts an image of a football fan cleaning a stadium with a domestic scene where a woman washes dishes while a man clad in the national team’s Samurai Blue kit lounges on a sofa behind her. The slogan reads: “Please do it at home.” The image has gone viral on social media, being reposted more than 13,000 times.

The post refers to data showing that Japanese men on average do only a small proportion of unpaid labour such as cleaning, shopping and childcare, even as more women are entering the workforce. OECD data puts Japanese men’s contributions to housework among the lowest of its member countries.

Men are gradually taking on more of these tasks, but a 2021 Japanese government study put the figures at 51 minutes for men per day, compared with three hours 24 minutes for women.

It was not only men who came in for criticism on social media after this week’s match – other users pointed out that Japanese people do not always pick up after themselves at public events at home.

Some litter can be seen on streets following large weekend events as well as in areas where there are few passers-by.

The “Please do it at home” post is based on a humorous Tokyo Metro poster series that urged passengers not to annoy those around them by applying make-up, listening to loud music or making phone calls on the train.

The eye-catching yellow-and-black posters were created by artist Bunpei Yorifuji.