I Join 400 Cosplayers, Others at Ocean Cleanup Campaign in Yokohama

Dressed once again as Monkey D. Luffy from the popular manga series “One Piece,” I joined some 400 cosplayers and other participants at the Cosplay de UMIGOMI (ocean waste) Zero 2023 campaign in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on World Cleanup Day on September 16.

Also taking part in the event, which kicked off a week-long ocean cleanup campaign, were Japanese Vice Environment Minister Motome Takisawa, Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka and Commandant Shohei Ishii of the Japan Coast Guard.

Jointly sponsored by The Nippon Foundation and the Environment Ministry, the ocean cleanup campaign was designed to raise public awareness of the issue of ocean debris with a view to contributing to a reduction in trash inflows into the ocean.

The day’s rally took place at three places in the port city－near the west exit of Yokohama Station, Kannai Station and Rinkai (seaside) Park. An estimated 80% of ocean debris flows into the ocean from cities and towns, meaning that reducing litter on land is essential to preventing marine debris from accumulating.

The foundation provided the participants with environment-friendly plastic trash bags, containing more than 50% biomass plastic made from plants.

A kick-off ceremony at the PACIFICO Yokohama convention center was linked online with cleanup rallies held in seven other prefectures across the nation－Aomori, Yamanashi, Fukui, Kyoto, Tottori, Oita and Kagoshima.

The participants in the Yokohama rally braved the lingering late summer heat and collected about 56 kilograms of trash in two hours.

I expressed my hope that the commitment shown by Japanese cosplayers, who are famous around the world, to tackling the problem of marine debris would help raise awareness of the issue globally.

Mayor Yamanaka said that everyone needs to redouble their efforts if we are to address the global issue of ocean debris, while Vice Minister Takisawa said: “Let’s all join together and work to ensure clean and bountiful oceans and a prosperous future.”

Ocean debris is an increasingly serious issue worldwide with some experts forecasting that at the present rate, the total volume of plastic waste in the world’s oceans will exceed that of fish by 2050.

I sincerely hope that the campaign will demonstrate to the rest of the world Japan’s initiative as a maritime nation in protecting the world’s oceans and serve as a model that can be used around the globe.