We will be hosting the event "Cosplay de Umigomi Zero Daisakusen!! 2023 at Osaka Namba."

During the event, cosplay fans from various places gathered and enjoyed both picking up litter and taking cosplay photos. Approximately 200 people participated in the clean-up, resulting in the collection of about 25 bags, equivalent to 90 liters of garbage.

This event was held as part of the "CHANGE FOR THE BLUE" project, an initiative by the Nippon Foundation to tackle marine litter.

The nationwide and worldwide campaign for Zero Marine Litter Week! At the opening ceremony, three teams including the Japan Coast Guard, McDonald's Japan, and cosplayers participated as event collaborators and made a declaration called "UMIGOMI-ZERO Declaration" to express their determination to reduce marine litter. Simultaneously, live broadcasts connected with eight venues across the country (Hokkaido, Iwate, Toyama, Aichi, Shimane, Okayama, Nagasaki, and Okinawa) to announce their commitment to Zero Marine Litter Week and to generate enthusiasm for "Haru no Umigomi Zero Week 2023." The entire nation united to kick off the campaign with a shared passion for a litter-free ocean.

After the opening ceremony, approximately 200 participants, including businesses and cosplayers, conducted a litter clean-up in the streets of Namba, Osaka. Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, these participants collected a total of 25 bags, equivalent to 90 liters, of garbage from the streets of Namba.

After cleaning up the streets of Namba, the cosplayers enjoyed their cosplaying activities in the newly pristine surroundings. They organized photoshoot sessions primarily around Namba River Walk and even took a ride on the "Tonboli River Cruise," fully immersing themselves in the experience of exploring Namba. Furthermore, some establishments in Namba extended their support to the event by allowing cosplayers to enter and take photos while still in costume, creating opportunities for enjoyable photoshoots inside the designated "Cosplay de Umigomi Zero Machi Aruki Kyoryoku Tenpo" (Cosplay-friendly cooperation stores) that were authorized for cosplaying activities during the event.

■ About "Zero Marine Litter Week"
"Zero Marine Litter Week"  is a nationwide simultaneous cleanup campaign aimed at reducing marine debris, which has been held since 2019. Participating organizations receive original garbage bags free of charge to support and promote cleanup activities throughout the country. Please note that a minimum of 30 participants is required per organization (cumulative number of participants over multiple cleanup sessions is also acceptable).

In the fiscal year 2023, the campaign will span from May 27 (Saturday) to June 11 (Sunday), including three commemorative days: May 30th as "Gomi Zero no Hi" (Zero Waste Day), June 5th as "Kankyō no Hi" (Environment Day), and June 8th as "Sekai Kaiyō De" (World Oceans Day). Additionally, the period from September 16th (Saturday) on "World Cleanup Day" to September 24th (Sunday) will be designated as the "Autumn Sea Zero Waste Week."

For more information, please visit the special website: https://uminohi.jp/umigomi/zeroweek/

■ Initiatives with Cosplayers
There are many cosplayers who actively engage in cleaning activities to ensure that the locations they use for their photoshoots remain clean and free of litter. These cosplayers, who immerse themselves in characters from manga, anime, games, and more, take the lead in participating in garbage collection and cleaning efforts. The World Cosplay Cultural Association collaborates with environmentally conscious cosplayers who have a strong presence on social media to promote marine litter reduction activities.

※ Additional note: "Cosplay" and "costume play"
The act of dressing up in character costumes and enjoying oneself, such as during Halloween events, is referred to as "costume play" or "cosplay." It is distinct from general costume activities. Cosplay events typically do not experience issues such as excessive noise, disruptive behavior, or significant littering after the event, as seen in some Halloween events in Shibuya, for example.