RCE Kitakyushu - 2024

The Circle 〜KitaQ Plogging〜
Basic Information
Title of project : 
The Circle 〜KitaQ Plogging〜
Contributing organization(s) : 
Kokura Shima Shima INC., Seinan Jo Gakuin Golden Z Club, OWLS CO., LTD.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Ayumi Matsuyama
Organizational Affiliation: 
Seinan Jo Gakuin University
E-mail: 
1222017@seinan-jo.ac.jp
Language of project: 
Japanese
Date of submission:
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Web link: 
https://plogging.jp/?pid=178604442
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Environmental improvement, Health Promotion
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Japan
Location(s): 
Kitakyushu City
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Plogging in Kitakyushu Planning Committee
3-3-20 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka, Japan 802-0006
Ecosystem(s):
Forest, Grassland, Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., TVET, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Kitakyushu City used to be one of the four major industrial areas in Japan and has supported the modernization of Japan. Thanks to the automobile, semiconductor, materials, parts, and other renewable energy industries, the city's gross domestic product exceeds 3 yen. In recent years, the city has been addressing environmental issues from many aspects, and has overcome serious pollution problems of the past as a whole city, including declaring itself a zero-carbon city, working on Kitakyushu City's growth strategy, and being selected as a decarbonization pioneering region in 2022.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Plogging is a new type of fitness that combines jogging and picking up litter. It is an eco-friendly project that also promotes health, and always keeps in mind the SDGs 3, 11, 14, 15, and 17. In particular, it focuses on the "ocean plastic waste problem" related to the 14th goal, and by picking up litter through plogging, it directly reduces the amount of litter that ends up in the ocean, and works to protect the environment. Plogging also creates opportunities for local people to exercise and deepen their interactions with the local community.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
January, 2024
Rationale: 
Kitakyushu City is facing issues such as a decrease in local interaction due to a declining birthrate and aging population, and employment mismatches due to rapid changes in the industrial structure. These are issues that large cities face, but Kitakyushu City is one of the first to face these challenges. We thought that implementing this project would provide opportunities and places to keep people and the city in good health, and lead to new encounters between companies and students.
Objectives: 
This was the first time that Plogging was held in Kitakyushu, and it was held as a joint event with the general incorporated association Plogging Japan, Seinan Women University, Kokura Shima Shima, Kitakyushu ESD Council, and other supporting companies in Kitakyushu. In addition to cleaning up the city by picking up trash, the goal was also to convey the attractions of Kitakyushu's tourist spots and supporting companies to participants. In addition, a collaboration was also made with the popular travel guidebook "Chikyu no Arukikata Kitakyushu City," which went on sale on February 1st, to distribute limited benefits to those who made reservations on the day of Plogging Kitakyushu, further promoting the attractions of Kitakyushu.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Students from Seinan Women University were involved in planning and running the event, setting six plogging courses in three areas, advertising the event, producing goods for the participants, and running the event on the day. When selecting the plogging course, they worked to create one that was easy for participants to run on and that was packed with the characteristics and charms of Kitakyushu City. Each course incorporated the tourist attractions of Kitakyushu City.
Size of academic audience: 
Approximately 120 people
Results: 
Participants of a wide range of generations gathered, and it was a place where they could communicate with people they would not normally come into contact with. It was also a valuable opportunity for the participating students to deepen their interactions with the sponsoring companies. At the end of the plogging, a total of 42.5 kg of garbage was collected. Among the collected garbage, PET bottles will be turned into recycled fibers and reborn as Kokura weaving by Kokura Shima Shima, which also participated in this project.
Lessons learned: 
Thanks to the support of many companies and the thorough preparations, the event went smoothly and without any problems on the day. As we made the preparations, we learned the importance of dividing up roles and solving tasks efficiently. Also, since it was a fairly large-scale event with many general participants, I felt that the organizers needed to increase their awareness of hospitality for the participants.
Key messages: 
By holding the first plogging event in Kitakyushu, we were able to tackle environmental issues and at the same time promote the strengths of Kitakyushu. By having citizens actually participate in plogging, we believe that awareness of the need to create a better city has increased.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
N/A
Funding: 
Kokura station、Kyushu Railway Company、Daiei Industry Co.,Inc. 、IZUTSUYA CO.,LTD.、Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc.、Sponsors

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon IMG_2513.png (4.9 MB) Group photo of Plogging Kitakyushu participants Plogging in Kitakyushu
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Arts 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes