Watch: Japan's hockey team leaves locker room after a fabulous cleanup job in Asian Champions Trophy 2023

During their Asian Champions Trophy encounter on Monday, the Japanese hockey team faced a 3-1 defeat against Malaysia. Nevertheless, the team garnered admiration for their act of tidying up their locker room before departing.

Notably, during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year, the Japanese football team and their fans gained attention for their responsible behavior by cleaning up their surroundings. The football team left behind a note of appreciation for the organizers, along with delicate origami cranes.

Renowned for its cleanliness, Japan's reputation as one of the world's cleanest countries was reinforced. Videos from the FIFA World Cup highlighted Japanese fans staying after their team's victory against Germany to assist the cleaning staff in restoring order at the Khalifa International Stadium.

A video shared by Hockey India on Monday showcased a member of the Japanese contingent diligently collecting debris in a plastic bag following their loss to Malaysia.

How the Japanese leave their dressing room after every match. Sparkling Clean ✨️ #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 pic.twitter.com/MzrZd6z0ae

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 7, 2023

In the match itself, Malaysia secured a 3-1 triumph over Japan, courtesy of goals scored by Najmi Jazlan (13th minute, penalty corner), Ashran Hamsani (37th), and Shello Silverius (59th), which paved their way into the semi-finals. The semifinal qualification is determined by the top four teams out of the six participating after the round-robin league. Malaysia's victory propelled them to nine points, achieved through three wins and one loss.

Despite their loss, Japan managed to find the back of the net through Niwa Takuma (59th), but it was in a losing effort. Their final league match will be against China on Wednesday. Notably, Japan has secured draws against both India and Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy.

Also read: Dropped from Asian Games contingent, Dipa Karmakar requests relaxation in eligibility criteria: Report