My favourite story from the World Cup so far is that, after Japan's unexpected victory over Colombia yesterday, the fans didn't go crazy and party like there's no tomorrow, but instead set about cleaning up all the garbage in the stadium, using garbage bags they took along for the very purpose.
The Japanese are inveterate neat freaks, and cleanliness is a national trait drilled into them from an early age. So, such an action would seem perfectly normal to them, but absolutely bizarre to much of the rest of the world. Certainly, here in North America, it is considered a God-given right to throw food and other garbage around cinemas, theatres and sports stadiums. Personally, I always take out my own garbage, but I must confess I have never gone to the lengths of clearing up other people's mess.
Anyway, the Japanese fans' public-spiritedness has struck a chord with many people, and created a major PR coup for the country. It has also already generated copycat actions, as Senegal's fans were also seen clearing up their area of the stadium after their own unexpected win (and Senegal is NOT a country known for its cleanliness and public-spritedness). Nice to see how one little positive action can lead to a cascade of goodness.
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