Second-year students from Koumyo Junior High School in Ikoma, Nara Prefecture, present their findings on marine debris – June 21, at the BLUE OCEAN DOME at the Osaka Expo. (©Sankei by Nobuhiko Yamaguchi)
このページを 日本語 で読む
Marine debris continues to plague Japan's coastlines, presenting an ongoing challenge for local communities. To address the issue, second-year students from two very different parts of the country came together at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, to share their creative ideas. The students came from landlocked Ikoma City in Nara Prefecture and coastal Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Global Crisis, Local Impact
Connected through an online exchange program, the students met face-to-face for the first time at the Expo, where they presented their joint proposals. One of the standout ideas was "GomiPuri" — a fun, practical concept that lets users pay for "purikura" photo booth sticker sessions by recycling plastic bottles. With the Expo as a platform, these young participants are helping to lead the way toward a more sustainable future.
Marine plastic pollution is a global crisis that endangers ecosystems and human health, yet international cooperation has been slow. At a UN negotiating session in Busan in December 2024, nations failed to agree on a treaty to reduce plastic waste, revealing sharp divisions between countries.
In Japan, Tsushima is on the front line. Each year, around 30,000 cubic meters of marine debris wash up on its shores, much of it consisting of PET bottles and styrofoam from China and South Korea.
Connecting Through Environmental Learning
The student exchange began in October 2024, connecting first-year students from Koumyo and Seibu junior high schools through a Ministry of the Environment program. The initiative was inspired by Ring Star Co, a toolbox maker based in Ikoma that repurposes plastic collected from Tsushima's beaches into shopping baskets, now used at official Expo stores.
The program aimed to help inland students, like those in Ikoma, better understand ocean-related issues and develop environmental awareness. Koumyo students learned through activities such as a simulated beach cleanup, using videos filmed by their Seibu counterparts.
Expo Presentation
After several rounds of selection, two teams — ten Koumyo students in total — were chosen to present their ideas at the Expo's BLUE OCEAN DOME pavilion on June 21.
Their proposal, GomiPuri, introduced a recycling-based payment system for photo booth stickers, a favorite among kids. "It's a win for us and the Earth," the students explained. They also suggested developing an educational game about marine debris and expressed interest in collaborating with recycling companies and plastic bottle manufacturers.
Life on the Frontlines
Meanwhile, students from Seibu Junior High, who live with the reality of marine debris every day, performed a skit highlighting how Tsushima's location causes it to act like a "garbage breakwater." They concluded with four pledges, including "Don't throw away unsorted trash" and "Commit to reducing plastic." In a joint session, students from both schools pledged to continue working together.
Yuta Karakane, Executive Director of Ring Star Co, praised the students' work: "They came up with ideas that exceeded all expectations." Eriko Ozaki, an educational advisor from Ikoma City and moderator of the event, emphasized the program's impact: "It enabled dialogue across generations, regions, schools, the private sector, and government."
Ring Star plans to promote the students' ideas to local governments and businesses. The company is also developing new products using plastic collected from beaches, with design input from Koumyo students. A new line of small accessory cases incorporating their ideas is scheduled for release by the end of August.
RELATED:
- Hokusai Inspires a New Form of Cardboard Recycling at Osaka Expo
- Tsuneishi Kamtecs Sets New Goals for Expanding in Southeast Asia
- Glass Recycling Gets a Boost with AI-Powered Sorting
Author: Nobuhiko Yamaguchi, The Sankei Shimbun
このページを 日本語 で読む
