[Social Action Network] Former Japan national soccer team member Tsuyoshi Kitazawa talks about the “deep connection between sports and the marine debris issue.” The new program “Play for Earth” begins airing on Chiba TV from 9:55 PM on Friday, October 17th!
Social Action Network Press release: October 3, 2025 To Members of the Press Former Japan national soccer team player Tsuyoshi Kitazawa talks about the “deep connection between sports and the marine debris issue.” The new program “Play for Earth” begins airing on Chiba TV on Friday, October 17th at 9:55 PM! The Sea and Japan Project in Chiba Prefecture (Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Megumi Aso), a general incorporated association, will be broadcasting a mini-program called “Play for Earth” on Chiba TV (Channel 3) from 9:55 PM on Friday, October 17th, which explores the issue of marine debris through sports. This program is part of the “Ocean and Japan Project: CHANGE FOR THE BLUE,” a marine debris countermeasure project promoted by the Nippon Foundation. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/278/161057-278-21e8fb3750b3d97f94318fbe4013425a-1600×900.png
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/278/161057-278-114693791ed23733a0cebfc8fe5880d9-1600×900.png ■ Past Activities and Background to Program Production Our
organization has been implementing “PLOGGING MAKUHARI” since 2022, combining jogging and sports with litter picking to address the problem of marine litter together with citizens of Chiba Prefecture. These activities have attracted attention as an initiative that fosters both fun and environmental awareness, and many citizens and athletes participate each time. Participants commented, “It’s fun to learn together with my children,” and “Working up a sweat with friends makes environmental issues feel closer to home.” The power of sports has created new connections in the community. Based on these achievements, we have produced the television program “Play for Earth” as a new challenge to reach an even wider audience. The program’s purpose is to use the power of sport to provide an opportunity for people to think about marine litter and other environmental issues as if they were their own problem. ■ Broadcast overview Program name: Play for Earth Broadcasting Station: Chiba TV (Channel 3) Broadcast Date and Time: Friday, October 17, 2025, 9:55 PM (10 episodes) Cast: Go Kitazawa (former Japan national soccer team player), Ozu Morira (Tokyo Verdy BS/JFA Beach Soccer Ambassador), Takufumi Kamizato (Tokyo Verdy BS) *Scheduled Cooperation: LIGHTSHIP Inc. Official Supplier: Chiba Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/278/161057-278-74c7efa2688b9649e493964735e7d631-1206×1512.png JFA Technical Committee Senior Advisor, Tsuyoshi Kitazawa Born in 1968 in Tokyo. Played for the Yomiuri Soccer Club Junior Youth team during junior high school. After graduating from Shutoku High School, she joined Honda Motor Co., Ltd. After studying soccer overseas and being selected for the Japanese national team for the first time, she played for Yomiuri Club (now Tokyo Verdy) (264 J1 League matches) and played in numerous international matches for the Japanese national team (59 international A matches). She retired from active play in 2003. She is currently working to further develop and popularize soccer as a senior advisor for futsal and beach soccer to the Japan Football Association, president of the Japan Para-Football Federation, and advisor to the Japan Women’s Football League. She is also actively involved in social contribution activities as a supporter of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Refugee Association of the United Nations (UNHCR), aiming to create an environment where children around the world can be supported through soccer. ■ Message from the Organization The joy of sports is only possible with a healthy environment. Through activities such as “PLOGGING MAKUHARI,” we have expanded the possibilities for having fun while tackling environmental issues together with local residents. We hope that the program “Play for Earth” will also help people realize the connection between sports and the environment, and inspire each individual to take action for the future. Organization Name: General Incorporated Association, Ocean and Japan Project in Chiba Prefecture URL: https://chiba.uminohi.jp/ Activities: Raising awareness of marine debris and conducting cleanup activities
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/278/161057-278-4d0eeba31d9ee16c0f6a1529bb581047-378×156.png CHANGE FOR THE BLUE This project, which began in November 2018 as part of The Nippon Foundation’s “Ocean and Japan Project,” aims to raise societal awareness of the need to “stop putting more waste into the ocean” by making every citizen a personal concern for the problem of marine litter. We will work with stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and the public to create a model for reducing marine litter and disseminate it both domestically and
internationally. https://uminohi.jp/umigomi/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/278/161057-278-b21db02a004d31528966996e6fb4e6f5-362×104.png The Nippon Foundation “Ocean and Japan Project” The ocean supports the lives of Japanese people in various ways, and at times provides peace of mind, excitement, and inspiration. This is an all-Japan project to encourage people across the country, including children, to take personal responsibility for the ongoing environmental degradation of the oceans and to expand the circle of action to preserve the oceans for future generations. https://uminohi.jp/
