Social Action Network Let’s become experts on marine debris in Gifu Prefecture, which has no sea! We held a marine debris learning event to explore the connection between mountains, rivers, and the sea!

[Social Action Network] Become a marine debris expert in landlocked Gifu Prefecture! Learn about the connection between mountains, rivers, and the sea with a marine debris learning session! ​
Social Action Network Press release: October 27, 2025 To Members of the Press Let’s become marine debris experts in landlocked Gifu Prefecture! We held a marine debris learning event to explore the connection between mountains, rivers, and the ocean! Saturday, October 18, 2025 [Location] Minato-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the Gifu Sea and Japan Project, a general incorporated association, held a “Marine Debris Learning: The Connection Between Mountains, Rivers, and the Sea” event for elementary school students in Gifu Prefecture. The event involved cleanup activities around Fujimae Tidal Flats and upcycling art. This event is being held as part of the “Ocean and Japan Project: CHANGE FOR THE BLUE,” a marine debris countermeasure project promoted by the Nippon Foundation.
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Event Overview Event Overview: An experiential learning tour for elementary school students in Gifu Prefecture to learn about the connections between mountains, rivers, and the ocean, and about marine debris. Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Venue: Minato Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture (Fujimae Tidal Flats Clean-up Operation Venue/Nagoya Port Garden Pier), etc. ・Number of participants: 15 elementary school students (1 absentee), university student supporters ・Cooperating organizations Fujimae Tidal Flat Executive Committee ・Japan Underwater Technology Promotion Association Let’s think about the current state and sources of marine debris through trash picking! Our first stop was Fujimae Tidal Flat, located at the innermost part of Ise Bay. Known as one of Japan’s leading stopover points for migratory birds, Fujimae Tidal Flat is home to many living creatures. However, it is also a place where a lot of trash washes up. Every spring and autumn, local residents living in the Fujimae Tidal Flat and its basin, civic groups, and educational institutions participate in large-scale cleanup activities. We participated in this “Fujimae Tidal Flat Clean-Up Campaign” and picked up trash. When the
participants arrived at the site, they were met with a vast expanse of trash, including plastic bottles. Despite having learned about washed-up trash beforehand, they were still astonished by the sheer amount of trash they saw and the sight of it littering the shore. The children all worked together to pick up as much trash as possible. After sorting, the most noticeable trash was plastic bottles. Fishing gear, gardening supplies, household items, and other trash originating from the river and city were also found. Participants examined the litter they picked up and each thought about its source, wondering why it was there. A variety of theories were expressed, including “Someone littered it, someone threw it away in secret, or it fell out of a trash can and washed it down.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/333/161057-333-006cd212954849d846dfd2b14b2c251f-2127×779.png Observe the ocean with an underwater drone! Following the cleanup, participants tried underwater observation using underwater drones at Nagoya Port. First, they practiced piloting the drones in the pool, then actually observed the ocean. In addition to finding shellfish and fish, some participants found trash submerged in the sea, learning about the existence of trash on the ocean floor. “It was difficult to navigate, but it was fun. We got to see lots of shells. It was a special experience,” said the smiling children. Through this experience, they deepened their interest in the ocean.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/333/161057-333-689d43cdb7fd97b3bc648adf7a97d3d1-2119×779.png Let’s try upcycling art! Finally, we tried “upcycling art” as an idea for reducing waste. Upcycling is the process of giving new value to items that would otherwise be thrown away and giving them a new life. This time, I created original works using materials that were destined for disposal, such as shredded food trays, egg cartons, tiles, screws, and plastic bottle caps.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/333/161057-333-f2e7934473e2626432f98b6981e2acba-2272×825.png Let’s communicate our feelings for the ocean and what we can do through our artwork! The children transformed waste materials into unique works of art. Their works included messages about what we can do as a people without an ocean, and their feelings for the ocean, through the connections between mountains, rivers, and the ocean. The learning session concluded with each child presenting their artwork. The children’s artwork will be featured on the Ocean and Japan Project Gifu website. [Example of a message from children to protect the ocean] – Let’s pick up trash and do small, steady efforts to help the ocean. ・Sorting garbage for the sake of turtles and fish will reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in the ocean. ・For the sake of the fish and the ocean, but also for yourself!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/333/161057-333-32a8beb3f22fbc55009de12587e0d97a-2168×779.png Participant Comments – I was told that 80% of marine debris comes from cities, and seeing the debris at Fujimae Tidal Flats made that clear. ・Seeing so many plastic bottles and littering made me realize just how much we throw away. ・Seeing so much trash made me realize that each person’s littering can lead to the next person doing the same. ・Seeing all the trash I couldn’t pick up made me want to pick up trash, even if it wasn’t my own. – The underwater drone experience was more difficult than I expected, but it was a special experience.
Organization Name: Sea and Japan Project Gifu General Incorporated Association URL: https://gifu-uminohi.jp/ Activities: As part of the Nippon Foundation’s “Ocean and Japan Project,” we are carrying out various projects aimed at connecting people through the sea, so that Gifu residents who lack a sea can pass it on to the next generation.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/161057/333/161057-333-1ab7d77bd6f3e241485943fb2c291804-512×211.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 encourage every citizen to take responsibility for the problem of marine litter and raise societal awareness of the need to “stop putting more litter into the ocean.” 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/161057/333/161057-333-cc4d93bf6d21f8ea66b8857b68a6da00-1868×535.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/