Reported by Noa Tatsuno, Hazuki Moriyama, Sakura Suzuki, Hajime Kaneto
On the morning of 26 September 2025, participants from the Environmental Club of Akita International University drove together to Katsurahama Beach, where they spent about an hour cleaning the shoreline. Armed with gloves, tongs, and eco-bags, the team walked along the coast collecting all sorts of litter washed ashore — plastic bottles, food wrappers, fishing gear, cigarette butts, and even remnants of fireworks.
Throughout the activity, participants also sorted the collected waste to identify reusable materials. Hard plastics such as bottle caps and plastic fragments were selected and brought back to the university for further cleaning and processing. These materials will be repurposed into handmade accessories, demonstrating a creative approach to upcycling and environmental awareness.
Key takeaways
- Seeing the Problem Firsthand: The cleanup offered a powerful, eye-opening experience for participants. Many shared that they had never realized how severe the marine plastic problem was until they saw the litter scattered across the beach. The activity proved that hands-on participation is one of the most effective ways to build real awareness about marine pollution.
- From Waste to Wearable Art: Participants carefully sorted the collected trash, separating hard plastics suitable for melting and reuse. These materials will be cleaned and transformed into handmade accessories—turning discarded plastic into creative reminders of sustainability and responsible consumption.
- Media Coverage and Community Reach: The initiative attracted attention from local TV, Akita TV, which joined the cleanup to film the activity. Two AJYELN Japan members, Noa and Hajime, were interviewed about the project’s goals and impact. The segment, expected to air around mid-November 2025, will also feature the accessory-making process, helping share the message of marine conservation with a wider audience.
Main highlights
- Date: 26 September 2025
- Location: Katsurahama Beach in Akita
- Organizer: Environmental Club in Akita International University
- Participants: Members of the environmental club, students of Akita International University
- No. of participants: 6
Outcome
The activity resulted in the collection of seven bags of waste, including one bag of hard plastic materials designated for upcycling. These plastics will be cleaned and processed into handmade accessories as part of the club’s ongoing environmental awareness efforts.
Beyond waste collection, the activity successfully enhanced participants’ understanding of marine plastic pollution and demonstrated the tangible impact of individual and collective action. By integrating cleanup efforts with creative reuse, the initiative highlighted how small-scale activities can contribute to broader sustainability goals within the university and local community.
Feedback
After the cleanup, participants shared reflections and ideas for future activities:
- “We should weigh the collected trash to measure our impact more clearly.”
- “Next time, we should invite more people outside the club to expand our reach.”
- “Some plastics were too fragile for accessory-making — we need clear collection guidelines.”
