The "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Shimane Prefecture Tournament" was held. The team that won the fierce battle was Izumo North High School's "Gomi-Metsu no Tong" 84 participants collected 289.68kg of garbage!

The Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Masanori Tamasawa, hereinafter "Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance") and TSK Sanin Central Television (Headquarters: Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Chouemon Tabi) held the "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Shimane Prefecture Tournament" at Kirara Beach in Izumo City's Taki Town on July 4th (Saturday). In this event, 28 teams of high school students from across the prefecture formed teams of three and competed to collect the most garbage within a 40-minute time limit (Note), earning points based on the quality and quantity of the garbage collected. This was the largest number of teams to participate in the Shimane Prefecture tournament, and "Gomi-Metsu no Tong" from Izumo North High School (Izumo City) emerged victorious.

Approximately 80% of the marine waste that is becoming a global issue is said to originate from land (towns). It is important for each individual to be aware of this issue and take action. The Spogomi Koshien aims to provide high school students, who will shape the future, with an opportunity to encounter Spogomi and realize the connection between their daily lives and the issue of marine waste. Teams that have advanced through regional qualifiers across the country will proceed to the national tournament (final) held in November and compete for the title of "Japan's Number One High School Sports Garbage Collection."

*Note: The usual competition time is 60 minutes, but it was shortened to 40 minutes on the day due to weather conditions and safety considerations.

Event Overview of "Spogomi Koshien 2026 Shimane Prefecture Tournament"

・Date: July 4, 2026 (Saturday) 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

・Venue: Kirara Beach (Taki Town, Izumo City)

・Number of Participants: 3 members per team × 28 teams = 84 people

・Organizer: Japan Foundation Spogomi Alliance / TSK Sanin Central Television

・Support: Japan Foundation

・Cooperation: Izumo City Environmental Policy Section / Taki Development Co., Ltd. / TSK Enterprises DC Co., Ltd.

・Co-sponsor: Ad Seishin Co., Ltd. / Izumo Culture Planning Co., Ltd. / Newtype Co., Ltd.

28 teams from high schools across the prefecture participated! Fierce battle under a rainy sky at Kirara Beach!

In addition to Kaisei High School, which has won the Shimane Prefecture Spogomi Koshien four consecutive times, regular schools such as Izumo Nishi, Hiramachi, Taisha, and Eta High School, which made its first appearance after a two-hour journey to the venue, participated. This was the largest number of teams to participate in the Shimane Prefecture tournament. Although Kirara Beach was under a typical rainy season sky, the participants, dressed in club uniforms, were full of energy and enthusiasm as they started the sports garbage collection.

A large amount of fishing gear was scattered! The total amount of garbage collected was 289.68kg!

There was a lot of garbage scattered on the beach, with large fishing gear such as poly tanks and buoys, torn fishing nets, and fishing gear for conger eel fishing being particularly noticeable. From the start, the 28 teams had their own strategies, such as carefully sorting the garbage or focusing on collecting as much as possible. Team Suiko from Hamada Fisheries High School participated, using a camera attached to their tongs and a smartphone app to record the garbage they picked up. They plan to apply their participation to cleaning activities in their local area as well. As a result of the 40-minute garbage collection, every team collected a large amount of garbage! The total amount of garbage collected by everyone was 289.68kg, a large amount.

The winner is Izumo North High School's "Gomi-Metsu no Tong"! Kaisei High School's five consecutive victories were not to be.

As a result of the serious sports garbage collection battle, "Gomi-Metsu no Tong" from the Interact Club of Izumo North High School (Izumo City) won. They collected a total of 23.58kg of garbage and earned 4,545.0 points. "Gomi-Metsu no Tong" studied the strategies of Kaisei High School, which has been winning consecutively, and participated in the tournament. During the competition, they focused on the weight of the garbage and the distance between the three members. The second-place team, Kaisei High School's "Kamakiri," collected a total of 23.4kg and earned 4,210.0 points. The third-place team, Hamada Fisheries High School's "Team Suiko," collected a total of 20.63kg and earned 3,728.0 points.

Participants shared their thoughts, such as "There were a lot of fishing gear, making it difficult to collect," "It made me think deeply about the garbage that comes from towns," "I want to participate in Spogomi as a regular event in the future," and "I want to become an organizer and host a Spogomi event in my hometown."

The members of "Gomi-Metsu no Tong," who will participate in the national tournament, said, "I think the range will be wider in the tournament in Tokyo. I want to look carefully from one end to the other and work hard with my team members," showing their enthusiasm.

The "Spogomi Koshien 2026 National Tournament" is scheduled to be held in Tokyo this November.

What is "Spogomi"?

Spogomi is an abbreviation for "Sports Garbage Collection," a sport in which teams compete based on the amount and type of garbage collected within a set area and time limit. With the slogan "Garbage collection is a sport!," it was born in Japan in 2008. Through this competition, not only does the amount of garbage decrease, but also, through teamwork and strategy and tactics, anyone, regardless of age or gender, has the possibility of "winning." This is the appeal of Spogomi.

◼︎What is "Spogomi Koshien"?

"Spogomi Koshien" is a tournament to decide the "Number One High School Sports Garbage Collection in Japan" for high school students (ages 15-18). High school students form teams of three and collect garbage within a predetermined competition time and area, first aiming to become the "local champion." Then, at the national tournament, the "Number One in Japan" team is decided in the true sense of the word.

"Spogomi Koshien" started in 2019 and this year marks its eighth tournament. This tournament, held with the theme of raising awareness of the marine waste problem, is a project that connects people through the sea to pass on clean seas to the next generation. Please look forward to the brave figures of high school students taking on the marine waste problem!

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 garbage collection as a sport and compete while sweating. Through this, we promote changes in awareness and behavior regarding garbage for people from children to adults, contributing to the creation of clean and livable cities. We also aim to contribute to the development of the Japanese sports world by realizing the fusion of sports and the environment and proposing new attractions for sports.

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

TSK Sanin Central Television

https://tsk-tv.com/

◼︎About the Japan Foundation

Pain, hope, and the future, together.

The Japan Foundation, established in 1962 as Japan's largest foundation, has been promoting activities in a wide range of fields, including children, people with disabilities, disasters, the ocean, and humanitarian assistance, transcending race and national borders, using funds from boat race sales as a source of funding.

https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/

*Note: "Spogomi Koshien 2026" is a grant project of the Japan Foundation.