Manila, Philippines, September 3, 2026: The Sepaktakraw Federation of the Philippines, Pilipinas Sepaktakraw, has issued its own athlete etiquette and team discipline guidelines ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
The 10-point guideline asks athletes to respect and follow the unwritten societal rules of Japan in order to fit in with their hosts and not stand out with rude or crass behaviour.
Point one insists that the Filipino athletes respect everyone. “Be polite. Bow or nod. Say ‘Arigato Gozaimasu’ (Thank you very much) and ‘Sumimasen’ (Excuse Me).”
The visitors are also asked to be quiet by keeping their voices down when talking or making calls in public spaces and when listening to music or watching videos, especially on trains, in elevators and in hotels.
The Japanese are famed for their punctuality, and the guidelines urge athletes to arrive 10 minutes early for their engagements. “Ten minutes early = on time. On time = late. Arrive ready.”
Another proud aspect of Japanese society is the cleanliness of the streets, houses, shops and hotels. “Clean up – never litter,” says the post.
Japanese football fans have become famous around the world for cleaning up the litter in the stands after their matches at the World Cup, and the players have followed suit by leaving their dressing room in immaculate condition on leaving the stadium.
The post concludes with five main points: “When in Japan: Be polite. Be quiet. Be clean. Be early. Be disciplined.”
These are guidelines that every visitor to Japan for the 20th Asian Games should follow in order to create a harmonious environment in the spirit of “Imagine One Asia.”