Combining fitness and environmentalism with SPOGOMI World Cup 2023

The city of Morioka, located in the picturesque Iwate Prefecture, played host to the local qualifying round of the “SPOGOMI WORLD CUP 2023” on June 10. This unique and groundbreaking event combines sport and environmentalism, encouraging participants to collect trash while promoting healthy competition and fitness.

Organized by the general incorporated association Social Sports Initiative with the backing of the Nippon Foundation, this exciting round featured 16 dedicated teams, totaling 48 participants. Emerging victorious was the adult team “Kaoru’s,” who will represent Iwate Prefecture at the national competition in Tokyo, October 2023.

SPOGOMI, a novel Japanese sport combining physical exercise and environmental stewardship, tasks three-person teams to gather waste within a specific area in 60 minutes. Points are awarded based on the amount and type of garbage collected, transforming a mundane task into a riveting contest.

“SPOGOMI WORLD CUP 2023 Japan STAGE” will pit the victorious teams from all 47 prefectures of Japan against each other. The triumphant team will earn the honor of representing Japan at the global level, “SPOGOMI WORLD CUP 2023,” where representatives from 21 nations will compete in November 2023.

Inaugurating this year, the SPOGOMI World Cup 2023 strives to globally proliferate the innovative ethos of SPOGOMI, encouraging worldwide participation in marine garbage reduction activities. The championship is a key initiative of the Nippon Foundation’s “Sea and Japan Project – CHANGE FOR THE BLUE.”

Despite Morioka City’s perceived distance from the sea, its relationship to the ocean is indirect but significant. The Kitakami River and its tributaries, running through the heart of the city, drain into the Sanriku Coast. The area set for the competition straddled a park, commercial area, and residential zone. Known for its cleanliness, this district is synonymous with anti-littering and cleanliness.

In an act of inspiring environmental stewardship, the 48 players painstakingly scoured the area, amassing a total of 14.8 kg of garbage. The sight of young children participating wholeheartedly until the last moment resonated powerfully, serving as a beacon of hope for the environmental cause.