Situated in the Sea of Japan and wedged between the Kyushu region of southwestern Japan and the Korean Peninsula, Tsushima is a group of islands with a resident population of 30,000 people. The blue, clear ocean waters encircling Tsushima are a popular spot for fishing and marine sports, while on the northern shore of Tsushima island lies one of the best beaches in Japan, Miudahama, which has natural white sand. It is an idyllic place, with rich fishing grounds thanks to the Tsushima Current, mountains that enfold the scenery with signs of the seasons, and a lifestyle that has shown respect to nature for generations. The beautiful islands and shores are sights that few have yet seen, but hopefully more people will come to witness them.
Ocean garbage, a serious problem worldwide, is now causing concern here in Tsushima. At the G20 summit in June, countries agreed to swiftly take action both nationally and internationally, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, to prevent and significantly reduce discharges of plastic litter and microplastics to the oceans. In addition, the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision," which aims to reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050, was shared.
SUENAGA Michinao, the director of Tsushima CAPPA, a general incorporated association that collects and publicizes information about the islands' efforts to combat marine debris, said: "There wasn't this much garbage when I was a kid. It's changed in the past 10 years or so. I'm at a loss because no matter how much we collect, we can't keep up."
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