Interview with three members of the green bird Okayama team
We spoke with Kikutake Yuki, the leader of the green bird Okayama team, Kanetaka Maria, the student leader, and Suzuki Yuya, who has been participating for two years, about the activities of the green bird Okayama team.
How I joined the green bird Okayama team
Please tell us how you joined the green bird Okayama team and your impressions since participating.
Kikutake (honorifics omitted)
I am currently the leader of the Okayama team.
I first participated in the green bird Okayama team's garbage collection activities seven years ago (2016).
While looking for something I could do to help society outside of work, I learned about the activities through social media and thought, I could also participate in garbage collection, which was the reason I joined.
At that time, there were few young people, and I had the impression that most participants were in their 30s to 50s.
As I continued, more and more young people started to participate, and the number of participants increased, reaching a maximum of 66 participants at one event.
As I continued the garbage collection, I began to feel that the amount of garbage was actually decreasing.
Kanetaka (honorifics omitted)
Since April 2023, I have been the student leader in Kurashiki.
I will have been participating in the green bird Okayama team for one year as of June 2023.
Until now, I had only talked to people of my own generation, but since joining the green bird Okayama team, I have been able to communicate widely with people of various ages, which has been a great experience.
Also, I previously had resistance to acting alone.
Since joining the green bird Okayama team, I have developed the feeling of trying to act even by myself and have been able to actually take action.
Suzuki (honorifics omitted)
I first participated in the fall of my third year of university.
I initially planned to go with friends, but I made a mistake with the date and ended up participating alone.
However, thanks to that, I no longer had resistance to participating alone, and since then, I have often gone to garbage collection activities by myself.
After garbage collection, we sometimes go to a café together, and I have a great time.
Because I didn't know anyone, I was able to talk to various people and become friends with other participants, which I think is the charm of the green bird Okayama team.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the green bird Okayama team
I heard that the green bird Okayama team recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Kikutake
The garbage collection for the 10th anniversary was canceled due to rain, but we held a celebration party in Okayama in March 2023.
The main purpose was to express gratitude to the participants.
And I wanted the participants to understand the purpose of the green bird Okayama team's activities.
Also, since we had hardly any interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, we held it with that meaning in mind.
A total of 35 participants who have been involved in garbage collection activities at various venues in Okayama Prefecture gathered, and we had a fun time deepening our friendships.
It was moving to feel the history of the green bird Okayama team, with people who participated in garbage collection in 2013 and those who participated in 2023 gathering together.
Participation in the Setouchi Two-Day March
I heard there are events other than regular garbage collection. What kind of events have you held so far?
Kikutake
In March 2017, we participated in the Setouchi Kurashiki Two-Day March.
It is an event where we walk in the suburbs of Kurashiki for two days.
On the first day, we walked 40 km from Kurashiki City Hall to Kojima Station, and on the second day, we took a course around Mabi in Kurashiki City for 30 km.
It was a tough event where we walked a total of 70 km while picking up garbage, but nearly 30 people participated over the two days.
The sense of accomplishment when we reached the finish line was incredible, but more than anything, I was very happy to share that emotion with my friends.
Activities in the Kasaoka Islands
What other events do you have?
Kikutake
We have also conducted activities in the Kasaoka Islands.
The islands we have visited so far, in order from the north, are Takashima, Shiraishi-jima Island, and Hishima.
From 2014 to 2016, we went to Takashima and Shiraishi-jima Island four times to carry out weeding work for the pilgrimage site on the islands.
In July 2019, we also conducted weeding around the abandoned school on Hishima and collected drifting garbage.
On remote islands like the Kasaoka Islands, in recent years, the number of people maintaining the environment has decreased due to depopulation, and both weeds and drifting garbage have been left unattended.
By visiting the islands, we green bird conduct activities that benefit the islanders and inform participants about the challenges faced by the islands.
Additionally, among the participants, there are many who live in Okayama but have never been to the nature-rich islands of Okayama.
Not only do we conduct cleaning activities, but we also enjoy activities like watermelon splitting, playing in the sea, and spending time with the islanders and friends while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Setouchi, which has become an irreplaceable experience.
Participation in the recovery support for Mabi
I heard that you also participated in activities during the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.
Kikutake
The green bird Okayama Team conducted support activities in Mabi for two days in August immediately after the disaster and for two days in September.
I remember working in the scorching heat of over 35 degrees Celsius, covered in sweat and mud.
At that time, not only the Okayama Team but also friends from green bird across the country gathered to help.
In total, more than 120 people.
Because it is an organization with a network across the country, we can connect with people far away and they come to help when something happens.
We were also able to use the network to communicate the actual situation in Mabi to the whole country.
We also want to go help if someone is in trouble somewhere.
About the future of the green bird Okayama Team
You are doing various things. Do you have anything you would like to try in the future?
Kikutake
Green bird is open to anyone, so not only students but also working adults are welcome, and I would love for beginners in volunteering to participate.
Picking up trash might be the easiest form of volunteering.
However, while picking up trash, you may face various social issues.
Trash issues, poverty issues, vacant house issues, and disasters.
There are various common challenges, so I think it is the most accessible volunteering to think about social issues.
In the future, I would like to hold events where everyone can think about volunteering together.
And I want to create an environment where participants can easily join other volunteer activities triggered by trash picking.
Message to those participating in trash picking activities
Please give a message to those who will participate in the future.
Kanetaka
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we set specific times when there were fewer people, so we were active early in the morning, but from April 2023, we have returned to starting at 10 AM.
Please feel free to drop by.
Many people participate alone.
Let's have a fun time communicating while picking up trash together.
Suzuki
Many current high school students have to do a certain number of volunteer hours to graduate, and I think there is an image that volunteering is high hurdle and unpleasant.
It’s fine to participate once for school credits at first, and I hope you can experience it and feel the joy.
Once you participate, you may discover things you hadn’t noticed before, and I believe you will gain something within yourself.
Conclusion
I want to try volunteering, but I can’t seem to gather the courage.
Some people may think it has nothing to do with them.
Instead of thinking of "volunteering" as something daunting, I think it’s fine to think, "Picking up trash seems easy and fun, so maybe I’ll give it a try."
The green bird Okayama Team's trash picking does not require a reservation, and you can participate alone whenever you feel like it.
By meeting and talking with various people there, you may expand your world.
Just thinking that you are participating in creating a clean town and contributing can be refreshing.
I also participated in green bird's trash picking for the first time, and while picking up trash, I was able to casually talk with people I had just met, and it turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable and fulfilling time.
"Littering is uncool"
Would you like to join the green bird Okayama Team in picking up trash to create a world where everyone can think that way?
Data of the green bird Okayama Team
| Name | green bird Okayama Team |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | ・Okayama Station: Fourth Saturday of the month, 10 AM to 11 AM ・Bikan Historical Area: Second Saturday of the month, 10 AM to 11 AM ・Uno Port: First Monday of the month, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Activities are also held irregularly in Kojima, Takahashi, etc. Events are also held. For details, check Instagram. |
| Location | Okayama City |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free. *Participation fees may be required for events. |
| Website | green bird |
