Japanese football fans have long been praised for their habit of cleaning up stadiums after World Cup matches, as this time, however, the practice has sparked domestic criticism over unequal household responsibilities.

Criticism Over Double Standard

When photos emerged of Japanese fans picking up trash after a match, some observers highlighted a perceived double standard; Men, they argued, clean public spaces while leaving the burden of household chores to their wives.

A viral poster on social media juxtaposed a man collecting litter at the stadium with the same individual relaxing at home while his wife handled household tasks. The poster urged men to pitch in more at home, noting their time spent on chores is among the shortest globally.

That post has been liked 60,000 times on X, a social media platform.

Housework Disparity in Japan

“Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes,” one X user wrote, referencing a quote by American author PJ O’Rourke.

Another user noted that there might be men picking up trash at the stadium who left their wives to care for young children at home. This highlights a broader issue in Japanese society, where public cleanliness is highly valued, but domestic responsibilities remain unevenly distributed.

According to Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data from 2021, Japanese women spend more than three hours per day on unpaid work—more than five times that of men, who spend 47 minutes a day on such tasks.

This disparity is especially pronounced in young families. A 2021 government survey found that in dual-income households with children under six, women spend more than seven hours a day on household chores while men spend less than two hours.

Some social media users also criticized the hypocrisy of picking up rubbish abroad when Japan’s public spaces often have litter after large events.

Encouragement for Public Cleanups

Despite the debate, many argue that the stadium cleanups should be encouraged rather than criticized. “Where’s the embarrassment in that?” an X user wrote. “It’s way better than reports saying ‘Japanese people are littering abroad.’”

The practice appears to have influenced fans from other countries too. A recent social media video showed Portuguese fans collecting rubbish from the stands with large plastic bags. Many users credited the Japanese with starting this trend.