The traveling tale of “Microplastic Madness” to make changes in Japan

The summer is in full swing, and once again, we find our beaches littered with plastics. There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, of which 269,000 tons float on the surface. We have seen how these plastics kill mammals (e.g., whales and dolphins), fish and birds that consume them by mistake.

Plastics are made from a complex mix of chemicals, some of which are toxic. Over time, plastics in the ocean break down to tiny particles and end up in the drinking water and even the air. Japanese scientists estimate 24.4 trillion microplastics in the upper oceans. The number is the equivalent to roughly 30 billion half-liter water bottles.

In fact, microplastics have already been found deep in our bodies, including in the blood and the lungs. Yet, it seems so hard for us to part with them. Microbeads, a type of microplastics in beauty and health products (e.g., toothpaste), are banned in Australia, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S., but not the rest (including Japan).

“Microplastic Madness” features the power of education

In 2009, a group of parents in Brooklyn, New York City, initiated a youth-led campaign to stop the use of Styrofoam trays, one of the major culprits of microplastics, in lower-income neighborhood schools. Their activities, including “Trayfree Tuesdays” to reduce single-use plastics used in cafeteria, led to the ban of polystyrene foam trays from all NYC public schools in 2013. This story is captured in an award-winning film, Microplastic Madness. The movie features fifth graders exploring causes and consequences of plastic pollution. They collect data on nearby beaches, lead awareness-raising activities in school and communities and testify at the City Hall.

The film director, Satake Atsuko Quirk, is a 21st generation samurai family member from northern Japan, currently living in New York City. Her last movie, “It’s Everybody’s Ocean,” won the best short documentary at the 2014 NYC International Film Festival. Microplastic Madness has been screened in 45 countries.

The inspirational film making a change in Japan

At last, the Japanese version of Microplastic Madness was released in 2021. To dub the voices of the adults and children that appeared in the film, public casting was conducted online and in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kyoto, for which a total of 578 people applied. The movie has been aired through independent theaters and self-organized events. Individuals and groups having seen the movie and interested in taking concrete actions can join the “Ambassadors Team,” working with the original group in New York City.

The beauty of this movie lies in its empowerment aspect. It showcases how the youth can shape the future, regardless of their backgrounds. Their creativity, resilience and solidarity change policies and legislations of their communities and beyond. It is utterly inspiring.

Podcast version of this article