Japanese men accused of double standards over viral World Cup clean-ups: 'Please do it at home'

Japanese men are facing criticism over alleged double standards after male football fans were filmed cleaning up stadiums following World Cup matches. The backlash followed a social media post mocked the cleanup effort with a message saying “please do it at home,” inspired by Tokyo Metro’s well-known etiquette posters. The AI-generated spoof showed a Japanese supporter lounging on a sofa while a woman did dishes, urging men to do domestic and care work at home first. The post, viewed more than a million times, contrasted with photos of fans tidying stands after a 14 June match.

The article notes that supporters had received praise after Japan’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in a 2026 World Cup match. Critics also questioned selective behavior, arguing that litter can still be seen in streets after major weekend events. The dispute drew on OECD household labour data, which says Japanese men spend 1.5 hours a day on household chores versus 3.3 for women, despite both doing paid work. A 2021 Japanese government study reported men doing 51 minutes of unpaid work daily compared with 3 hours and 24 minutes for women.