The "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Yamanashi Prefecture Tournament" was held, with the "Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II" (Kofu East, Turu, and Fuefuki combined team) achieving consecutive victories!

The Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Masanori Tamasawa, hereinafter "Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance") and YBS Yamanashi Broadcasting (Headquarters: 6-10 Kita-guchi 2-chome, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Eiichi Noguchi, hereinafter "Yamanashi Broadcasting") held the "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Yamanashi Prefecture Tournament" on June 28 (Sun) in Ishiwa-cho, Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. In this event, 31 teams of high school students aged 15-18, forming teams of three, competed to pick up trash within a designated area in 45 minutes (shortened due to rain), and their quality and quantity were scored.

Approximately 80% of the marine waste that is becoming a global issue is said to flow out from land (towns). It is a big step towards solving the problem if each individual becomes aware and takes action. The Spogomi Koshien aims to be an event where high school students, who will shape the future, encounter Spogomi and become aware of the connection between their daily lives and marine waste problems. The winner of the Yamanashi Prefecture tournament, "Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II," will advance to the national tournament (final) held in November and aim for the top spot in "high school sports waste picking" in Japan. (The photo is a group photo after the closing ceremony)

Event Overview of "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Yamanashi Prefecture Tournament"

・Date: June 28, 2026 (Sun) 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

・Venue: Around the Fuefuki City Hall, Ishiwa-cho, Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture

・Number of Participants: 30 teams of 3 people each, 1 team of 2 people = 92 people

・Organizer: Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance / YBS Yamanashi Broadcasting

・Grant: Japan Foundation

・Special Sponsor of Spogomi Koshien 2026 Yamanashi Prefecture Tournament: Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture

"Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II" is the first in the nation to achieve consecutive victories at the Yamanashi Prefecture tournament!

The Yamanashi Prefecture tournament, which was in danger of being held due to the approach of a double typhoon, changed the reception venue from the Fuefuki River riverside to the front of the Fuefuki City Hall, prioritizing the safety of the participants, and excluded part of the riverside from the target area to hold the event. Under conditions where it occasionally rained, 31 teams collected trash from the shrubbery around the city hall, the sidewalks in the city, and the side ditches of grape and peach orchards. Although the competition was shortened to 45 minutes, the participants brought back a lot of trash in their collection bags. As a result, the combined team of Kofu East, Turu, and Fuefuki, "Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II," achieved consecutive victories with a total trash weight of 9.64kg and 1922.0 points, just 49.5 points ahead of the runner-up team.

Winning Team "Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II" Runner-up Team "Bi-Sou Team" Kofu East

The Original Item Award is an "Eco" & "Great to Use" masterpiece

In the selection of the Original Item Award, which selects outstanding works of "Original Items" devised by each team to effectively pick up trash, six teams entered in the Yamanashi Prefecture tournament. Among them, Team "Ata Cure" (Kofu East *photo) processed a rice bag into a backpack type bag. It is said that the idea came from the fact that the team member's grandmother makes rice. The result of the judging was that the point of "effectively utilizing rice bags" was evaluated, and the Original Item Award was awarded. The members commented, "It was light and comfortable to use."

The total amount of trash collected at the Yamanashi Prefecture tournament was 54.2kg

The Kofu Basin, surrounded by mountains on all sides. The Fuefuki River flows through its center. In the past, when it rained, the river would flood, threatening people's lives. In the Warring States period, Takeda Shingen carried out flood control work, and from the Meiji to Showa periods, river improvement work also progressed, and now there are few people suffering from floods. However, as Fuefuki City has become one of Japan's leading tourist destinations, many people visit, and a lot of trash flows into the Fuefuki River, and there have been times when environmental problems have worsened. The riverside of the Fuefuki River, which was the venue for the Spogomi Koshien, is also a place familiar to citizens where events such as the "Summer Cormorant Fishing on the Fuefuki River," the "Ishiwari Onsen Fireworks Festival," and in autumn, the "Koshu Army Departure" are held. Although cleaning activities are carried out after each event, there are still limits. The high school students who participated said, "It's a place I often pass through, so it's good that it's clean now," and so on.

Comments from the Winning Team "Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II"

"Ichinomiya Red Scorpion Team II" is a team composed of classmates from Ichinomiya Junior High School in Fuefuki City, and they decided to win consecutively for the second year in a row. The members said with a smile, "Last year's Yamanashi Prefecture tournament was held in October, and this time we also picked up trash in almost the same place, but there was a lot of trash, which was regrettable. However, picking up trash gave us a great sense of refreshment. We were 10th in last year's national tournament, so this year we will aim for the championship and do our best."

What is "Spogomi"?

Spogomi is an abbreviation for "sports waste picking," a sport where teams compete for points based on the amount and type of trash picked up within a set area and time limit. With the slogan "Waste picking is a sport!," it was born in Japan in 2008. Through the competition, not only does the trash disappear, but also, depending on teamwork, strategy, and tactics, anyone can have the possibility of "winning" regardless of age or gender, which is the appeal of Spogomi.

◼︎What is "Spogomi Koshien"?

"Spogomi Koshien" is a tournament to decide the "Number 1 High School Sports Waste Picking in Japan!" for high school students (ages 15-18). High school students form teams of three, pick up trash within a predetermined competition time and area, and first aim to be the "local champion." Then, the "Number 1 in Japan" team is decided at the national tournament.

"Spogomi Koshien" started in 2019 and this year marks the 8th tournament. This tournament, held with the theme of raising awareness about marine waste problems, is a project where people connect through the sea to pass on clean oceans to the next generation. Please look forward to the brave actions of high school students tackling marine waste problems!

https://zenkoku.spogomi.or.jp/

<Organization Overview>

General Incorporated Foundation Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance

We promote the spread, promotion, and enlightenment of activities that view waste picking as a sport, compete, and sweat while picking up trash. Through this, we promote changes in awareness and actions regarding the relationship with trash from children to adults, contribute to creating clean and livable cities, and aim to realize the fusion of sports and the environment. By proposing new attractions of sports, we aim to contribute to the development of the Japanese sports world.

https://www.spogomi.or.jp/

YBS Yamanashi Broadcasting

Opened on July 1, 1954 as "Radio Yamanashi." In September 1961, it was renamed "Yamanashi Broadcasting" (YBS). Both TV and radio focus on self-produced programs that are close to the region and always boast high listening and viewing rates. As the group's slogan "Your, the best media" suggests, it has established an unshakable position as a familiar broadcasting station that is indispensable for Yamanashi Prefecture residents.

https://www.ybs.jp/

◼︎About the Japan Foundation

Pain, hope, and the future, together.

Since its establishment in 1962 as Japan's largest foundation, the Japan Foundation has been promoting activities in a wide range of fields, including children, the disabled, disasters, the ocean, and humanitarian aid, transcending race and national borders, using grants from boat race revenues as its source of funds.

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