What societal values do organised Shibuya celebrations reflect?

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Organised Shibuya celebrations reflect a culture of shared responsibility and respect for public space.
Japanese supporters celebrating the Samurai Blue’s 4-0 win over Tunisia in Shibuya Crossing did so with clear, disciplined routines, including waiting for pedestrian lights to turn green before entering the intersection and then clearing the crossing to let traffic resume. The same sense of order carried into Mexico, where fans practised gomi hiroi, collecting litter with blue rubbish bags after the final whistle at Estadio Monterrey. Together, these behaviours are presented as expressions of shared responsibility rather than the chaotic street-party scenes often seen after major football victories elsewhere.
Fans followed pedestrian signals and cleared the crossing to keep traffic moving
In Shibuya Crossing, thousands of jubilant supporters did not surge uncontrollably into the streets. They waited for the pedestrian lights to turn green, entered the intersection for chanting and celebration, and then calmly cleared the crossing so traffic could continue. The repeated pattern as lights changed highlights a strong respect for shared rules in a public space.
Post-match litter collection showed courtesy beyond the stadium
After Japan’s 4-0 win in Monterrey, fans remained in the stands with familiar blue rubbish bags to collect litter before leaving the stadium. This custom, known as gomi hiroi, is described as a recurring symbol of Japan’s football support culture at international tournaments. The behaviour links celebration with maintaining cleanliness for others who use the same venue.
The conduct is framed as shared responsibility rather than individual release
The organised scenes are contrasted with chaotic street parties seen elsewhere after major football victories, positioning Japan’s celebrations as orderly and controlled. The fans’ respect is explicitly tied to a “culture of shared responsibility,” where public behaviour is shaped by consideration for the wider community. In this framing, the point of the celebration is not only to enjoy the win, but also to keep collective spaces functioning.
The tradition is sometimes debated, but it is still seen as simple courtesy
While the litter-collection practice has occasionally drawn debate, with some critics questioning whether it has become performative, the prevailing international perception described is that it remains an act of courtesy. That perspective connects the practice to civic-minded behaviour rather than spectacle alone. As a result, the same value system appears both in Shibuya’s traffic-aware celebration and in gomi hiroi after the match.

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What societal values do organised Shibuya celebrations reflect?

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