In Okayama, there is an organization that has continued its litter-picking activities for 10 years as of April 2023.
It is called “green bird Okayama Team.”
From small children to students, working adults, older people, people from overseas, and even people walking their dogs.
People from all walks of life carry large garbage bags and pick up litter while chatting together in a lively, cheerful atmosphere.
I also heard that after taking part, you can get a stamp on a point card, and once you collect enough stamps, you can receive a prize!?
They take part in the Osaka Marathon and charter a boat to go pick up litter on an island in Okayama.
It seems they also hold somewhat unusual and fun events, unlike ordinary litter-picking volunteer activities.
What kind of organization is it?
I joined green bird Okayama Team’s litter-picking activity in Kurashiki, and would like to tell you what it was like.
The information presented here is current as of when this article was published in May 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is green bird?
green bird is a volunteer organization that continues litter-picking activities anyone can easily join, with the aim of increasing the number of people who do not litter, under the motto “Clean streets make for clean hearts.”
How green bird began
green bird began its activities in Harajuku Omotesando, Tokyo, in 2002.
At the time, businesses in the Omotesando shopping district were at the center of regular cleanup activities.
However, no matter how many times they cleaned up, the streets remained overflowing with garbage.
So they changed the purpose of their activities to “creating an atmosphere where people do not litter in the streets.”
After being established as an NPO in 2003, the organization expanded its teams throughout Japan and around the world.
The circle of support has grown, with backing not only from individuals but also from companies and organizations. In addition to donations, they also provide supplies such as garbage bags, gloves, and bibs.
About green bird Okayama Team
green bird Okayama Team was established in March 2012 by its first leader, Matsubara Tatsuyuki.
The Okayama Team carries out its activities with the motto “Relaxed and fun.”
It aims to create an environment where anyone can easily take part.
- You can join empty-handed without preparing anything
- It’s okay to arrive late
- It’s easy to join even on your own
- No registration is required to sign up
Following green bird’s concept, everyone wears bibs, carries tongs, and picks up litter.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, participation was by registration, but registration has not been required since April 2023.
The people who take part
Currently, three student leaders work together to plan and run activities, led by third-generation leader Kikutake Yuki and second-generation leader Goto Hiroto.
With young people and students as core members, the age range of participants has also broadened.
University professors and international students also take part, and green bird Okayama Team is characterized by people of a wide range of ages, nationalities, and professions coming together to pick up litter.
green bird Okayama Team’s activity locations and times
The current activity locations and times for green bird Okayama Team are as follows.
- In front of Okayama Station — fourth Saturday, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
- Bikan Historical Area — second Saturday, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
- Uno Port — first Monday, 6:30–7:30 a.m.
Times may vary depending on the season.
They also sometimes hold activities in Takahashi City or at Kojima Station on an irregular basis.
In addition to regular litter-picking activities, they also hold a variety of events.
For the latest activity schedule, see green bird Okayama Team’s Instagram.
I joined a regular litter-picking activity in Kurashiki
This was my first time joining a litter-picking activity in Kurashiki.
The group met at 10 a.m. that day, near the entrance to the shopping street in front of JR Kurashiki Station (right next to the Chugoku Bank’s Ekimae Branch).
The people wearing green bibs make a good landmark.
When I said I wanted to join, I was given the following equipment.
- Garbage bags
- Gloves
- Tongs
- Bibs
Two types of garbage bags are provided: one for non-burnable waste and one for burnable waste.
Litter-picking begins
At 10 a.m., the leader began with a greeting.
They explained the precautions for picking up litter in detail, so even first-timers could understand.
After the explanation, everyone lined up in several rows behind the leader and started walking toward the Bikan Historical Area.
At green bird Okayama Team, rather than picking up litter separately, all the participants walk together in a group as they pick up litter.
We carefully checked for litter, walking along and looking for places where it might have been left.
Those who had been there many times seemed to quickly spot cigarette butts hidden in the shadows of pillars.
With practiced hands, they picked them up with tongs and put them in their garbage bags.
Conversations while picking up litter
Since we were in the Bikan Historical Area, tourists from overseas were walking around too.
Perhaps curious about the group wearing green bibs, some tourists came over to talk to us.
Some of the participants could speak English and explained what we were doing.
As the global COVID-19 pandemic has begun to subside, the number of tourists visiting Kurashiki from overseas has recently increased.
Seeing green bird Okayama Team’s activities may give people around the world a chance to take notice of them.
A high-school-aged boy was walking in front of me, so I tried talking to him.
He said he saw the activity on Instagram and thought, “I wanted to try doing some kind of volunteer work, and maybe I could pick up litter,” so he decided to join this time.
I was impressed by how thoroughly he searched for litter.
Next, I spoke to a boy and girl who were high school students and had made eye contact with me nearby.
When I asked, “Do you participate often?” they smiled and replied, “I’ve been participating since I was in junior high school.”
The two said they also participate at other locations, such as Okayama, and that “there is relatively little litter in Kurashiki (Bikan Historical Area).”
About the litter
When I first started walking, I thought there wasn’t much litter. But along main roads and elsewhere, litter is blown along by the wind and ends up on the ground—perhaps because people throw it out of their cars.
Broken liquor bottles and cans are also discarded as if hidden behind street trees and utility poles, so you have to look carefully in places that aren’t visible from the street.
The hour or so flew by.
Everyone gathered the litter they had picked up and sorted it.
The leader thanked the participants, announced the location of the next event, and wrapped things up.
Finally, everyone who participated took a group photo.
It was windy that day, but the temperature was comfortable, and after the cleanup I felt somehow refreshed.
After the litter cleanup, I spoke with three people, including the leader, about the activities of the green bird Okayama team.
green bird Okayama Team Information
| Name | green bird Okayama Team |
|---|---|
| Event dates | ・In front of Okayama Station: Fourth Saturday, 10:00–11:00 a.m. ・Bikan Historical Area: Second Saturday, 10:00–11:00 a.m. ・Uno Port: First Monday, 6:30–7:30 a.m. Activities are also held irregularly in Kojima, Takahashi, and elsewhere. Events are also held. For details, see Instagram. |
| Location | Okayama City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free. *A participation fee may be required for events and other activities. |
| Website | green bird |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
