Ultraman to the rescue! Movement to combat marine plastic pollution

A number of businesses, startups and nonprofit groups are engaged in cleanup operations, but here is a superhero – Japan’s Ultraman – to the rescue as well.

From samurai to Ultraman

Masahiro Suzuki was born in Miyagi, not too far from the Pacific coastlines devasted by the Great Eastern Earthquake. Hoping to make positive changes in the world, Masa joined a Japanese nonprofit group planting trees in inner Mongolia in 2008, at the age of 23. In 2013, he also started beach cleaning in Okinawa, Japan, as well as in Hawaii, Hong Kong and India.

In 2015, Masa visited Bali. The sight of plastics piling up on its beaches shocked him, and ever since, he has returned during the rainy season, when trashes pour into the ocean, to clean them up. He wore a kimono to get public attention on the issue. The image of a lone samurai with a fish net caught media attention, and locals – especially children – began to join him.

Eight years later, Masa is back in Bali as an Ultraman this time. He explains what prompted the new outfit.

“Beyond the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, I felt as though I was highlighting negativity – plastic pollution – in the dream destination where people would come for relaxation and relief from daily stress. Moreover, I felt guilty about undermining the livelihoods of my local friends depending on tourism.” Then Masa saw a footage of an Ultraman and remembered his initial days as a samurai in Bali. “The idea of beach cleaning as an Ultraman cheered me up. My doubts and heavy feelings turned into something that we can enjoy doing.”

Movement from Japan to the world

Perhaps, it needs this “plus” factor to continue and expand social movements. What Masa cherishes most is these unexpected encounters and breakthroughs in challenging what seems unchallengeable which, in turn, encourage him to take the next step.

Masa also says that cleanup is only one stage, and much needs to be done for establishing a system of collecting and disposing of plastics. “Most importantly, we need a social and behavioral shift” to reduce waste in the first place. “Can we think beyond our own needs and wishes; can we think about us all, including nature?” The children who grow up watching the Ultraman clean their beaches would think twice about discarding trash into the environment. The real Japanese Ultraman continues to be the beacon of hope.

この投稿をInstagramで見る

宇宙の子マサ｜MASA（hiromasa suzuki）(@masa_sevenseas)がシェアした投稿

Masa is raising funds to return to Bali for this rainy season. Click here for the link to the crowdfunding. (in Japanese)