During the 2018 World Cup, after a surprise victory against Colombia, Japanese football fans dominated headlines for reasons other than their country's stellar performance on the pitch: following a historic win (and an excellent excuse to celebrate, if ever there was one), they meticulously cleared up the stadium, collecting litter as a sign of respect for their surroundings as guests. For those who have been to Japan, stories like this might seem familiar. I've been lucky enough to hear many of them - examples of the spirit of omoiyari, the feelings of empathy and compassion that fuel the actions that people take for others. It's demonstrated most clearly in the art of Japanese hospitality, but through various other practices and traditions, too.
