Celebrating 150 Years: Marumo Junior High's Cultural Festival Highlights Sustainability

150th Anniversary Cultural Festival of Marumo Junior High School

On October 18, 2025, the Marumo Junior High School, located on the remote Madarajima Island in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, celebrated its 150th anniversary with a vibrant cultural festival. As part of the "Plusma LIFE Saga" project, a collaboration between the Saga Prefectural Circular Economy Promotion Division and the NPO Karatsu Farm & Food, students showcased their learning outcomes from the past year during this momentous event.

The festival was not just an occasion for celebration, but also a platform for students to express the importance of sustainability through their own words, having learned about environmental issues through various hands-on experiences, including beach clean-ups and upcycling workshops.

Beach Clean-Up Activities

In June, in conjunction with World Oceans Day, Marumo Junior High conducted a significant beach clean-up event. With support from students of Karatsu Minami High School and the J-League team Saga Tosu's community outreach program "Sagan Sharen!" (under the instruction of Yusuke Inoue), the school organized lectures and workshops pertaining to environmental issues. In the afternoon, students ventured to Tajiri Beach to remove debris, collecting 34 bags of marine pollution including polystyrene, fishing nets, plastic bottles, and cans—equivalent to two light trucks full of waste.

The Sagan Tosu mascot, Wintosu-kun, made a special appearance, joining students, teachers, and local residents in a unified effort to protect the ocean.

Upcycling Workshops

In September, the school held an upcycling workshop centered around the island's natural and cultural heritage. Students were encouraged to design upcycled coasters, inspired by local wildlife such as goats, wild boars, and various regional fruits like “genkou.” These creative designs were produced into molds by MESEI, a company affiliated with the Precious Plastic Japan Team. Using marine plastics and caps collected during the beach clean-up, the students crafted unique upcycled coasters.

The workshop showcased a nurturing learning environment characteristic of remote islands, where middle school students gently supported their younger peers throughout the creation process.

Showcasing Learning Outcomes at the Cultural Festival

The cultural festival culminated in a presentation of the year’s combined activities under the "Plusma LIFE Saga" umbrella, where students displayed records of their beach clean-up and showcased the upcycled coasters. This event not only educated attendees about the significance of their activities but also inspired the community about sustainable practices.

Innovative projects like the digital wave ema, developed during the "Tsushima Week" at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, were also shared. Using marine debris as materials, students expressed their hopes for the ocean and the future, emphasizing the idea that environmental education can bridge local efforts to global impacts.

Moving Towards a Sustainable Future

As the festival concluded, guests were moved by students’ honest reflections such as, "I learned that protecting the island’s environment is akin to protecting the Earth". The event ended on an inspiring note with a student’s message, stating, "Small actions from our little island can change the world."

A Sustainability Model from the Islands

The engagement on Madarajima Island marks the third project following initiatives on Ogawa Island and Kakarajima. The NPO Karatsu Farm & Food, in collaboration with Saga Prefecture, aims to promote a sustainable island model that leverages education and local wisdom. They aspire to continue their efforts with the island’s children, aspiring for a society that does not allow waste to enter the ocean.

Karatsu Precious Plastic Initiative

Karatsu’s Precious Plastic initiative serves as a hub for upcycling plastic waste into creative and practical products such as coasters and art items. The organization utilizes an open-source circular economy system to process collected plastics, facilitating workshops that allow residents, children, and businesses to experience a sustainable circular economy hands-on. Their efforts were recognized at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where they participated in educational programs and workshops, setting an example for successful upcycling initiatives in Japan.