Source: The "Sea and Japan Project" Public Relations Office press release
Official Site: https://okinawa.uminohi.jp/event/machinaka2023/
Photo courtesy of the Nippon Foundation. © TOHO CO., LTD.The Nippon Foundation's "Sea and Japan Project" is hosting their second annual Godzilla-themed event in Okinawa*. Entitled "Godzilla vs. Okinawa Raids Again" (ゴジラ対沖縄の逆襲, Gojira Tai Okinawa no Gyakushū), the event will be held from June 17 - August 20 at locations featured in the 1974 movie GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (ゴジラ対メカゴジラ, Gojira Tai Mekagojira), among them the Gyokusendo limestone cave in Okinawa World, Cape Manzamo, and the ruins of Nakagusuku Castle on Kokusaidori Street in Naha. Participants can take part in a free stamp rally at 10 stores on Kokusaidori, get limited edition "red seals" (a collectible Shinto seal stamp) available exclusive at Shuri Castle, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, and other local facilities; and encounter a life-size Godzilla appearing via AR at the Manzamo Area Revitalization Facility.
In conjunction with "Godzilla vs. Okinawa Raids Again," the "Sea and Japan Project" is partnering with Little Monsters Co., Ltd. for "Operation Machinaka Garbage Pickup" (まちなかごみ拾い大作戦, Machinaka Gomi Hiroi Daisakusen) on Saturday, June 17, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Kokusaidori Street, known as "International Road" for the popularity of its many restaurants and souvenir shops among locals and tourists, has been facing the problem of littering in hard-to-see places and ditches. "Operation Machinaka Garbage Pickup" will be held in the area around Tenbusu Naha on Kokusaidori, with participants receiving a limited edition postcard after helping with the litter pickup.
■ Organization Profiles
Sea and Japan PROJECT in Okinawa Prefecture
In response to the marine litter problem, which has become more serious in recent years, we aim to promote "personalization" of the situation among many residents of the prefecture through beach cleanup activities as well as media and events, and to link this to action by each individual. In order to cope with the ever-increasing amount of marine debris, this project will implement plans to encourage prefectural residents to change their behavior, in addition to awareness-raising and actions in cooperation with various companies, organizations, and government agencies.
Official Website: https://okinawa.uminohi.jp/
CHANGE FOR THE BLUE
This project has been promoted since November 2018 as part of the Nippon Foundation's "Sea and Japan Project" with the goal of making the issue of marine litter a personal matter for each citizen and raising awareness throughout society to stop littering the oceans
The project aims to create a model for reducing marine litter in cooperation with stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and the private sector, and disseminate the model both domestically and internationally.
Official Website: https://uminohi.jp/umigomi/
Photo courtesy of Shinagawa Aquarium. © TOHO CO., LTD."Connecting people with the sea."
The oceans support Japanese people's daily lives in various ways while also providing comfort, excitement, and inspiration. This is an all-Japan project, under the banner of the Nippon Foundation, the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, to help children and people across Japan see the ongoing environmental degradation of the oceans as "their own business" and expand the circle of action to pass on the oceans to the future.
* The "Sea and Japan Project" also sponsored the children's "Chibi Godzilla and the Mystery Solving SDGs - Let's Protect the Richness of the Sea" environmental event at the Shinagawa Aquarium in Tokyo this past April and May.