Japanese fans' World Cup cleanup highlights gender gap in domestic chores
Japanese football fans have gained international attention for their habit of cleaning up stadiums after matches during the ongoing World Cup. Videos showing them picking up trash with bags have been widely shared online, praised as a display of public-mindedness and collective responsibility.
However, this positive image has sparked a conversation in Japan about gender roles at home. Some Japanese women have commented online, questioning why such civic conscientiousness is not reflected in the domestic sphere, where unpaid labour remains unevenly distributed.
According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japan has one of the most unequal distributions of unpaid domestic work among developed nations, with women bearing the vast majority of the burden.
Sociologists point to the cultural distinction between soto (outside) and uchi (inside) as a root cause. Originating in the Meiji era, this social code emphasizes voluntary self-restraint and collective responsibility towards guests, strangers, and the public — the soto realm. Meanwhile, the uchi realm, the family, often absorbs the remaining labour and expectations.
The stadium is considered soto, where meticulous care is shown. The home, or uchi, is where the burden often falls disproportionately on women. This contrast does not diminish the commendable public behaviour of Japanese fans, but it highlights a broader societal issue that remains a subject of debate within the country.
