Spogomi Koshien 2026 Miyazaki Prefecture Tournament Held: Victory Goes to Miyakonojo KOSEN's 'Terracotta Army' Team! 57 Participants Collect 77.57kg of Waste

The Nippon Foundation Spogomi League (Headquarters: Minato Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masanori Tamazawa, hereinafter 'the Spogomi League') and MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting (Headquarters: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture; President & CEO: Kenji Matsukata, hereinafter 'MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting') jointly hosted the 'Spogomi Koshien 2026 Miyazaki Prefecture Tournament' on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Miyazaki City. The event brought together 19 teams of high school students aged 15 to 18, each team consisting of three members, who competed over a 50-minute period to collect as much waste as possible within a designated area, earning points based on both the quantity and quality of the waste collected.

It is estimated that approximately 80% of the marine debris polluting oceans worldwide originates from land-based sources. Individual awareness and action are crucial first steps toward solving this issue. The Spogomi Koshien tournament aims to inspire high school students—the future leaders of society—to recognize the connection between their daily lives and the problem of marine pollution through the sport of Spogomi. Teams that advance through regional qualifying tournaments across Japan will proceed to the national finals, where they will compete for the title of Japan's top 'high school sports cleanup' team.

*Note: While the standard competition time is 60 minutes, it was shortened to 50 minutes for this event due to weather conditions and safety considerations.

Event Overview: Spogomi Koshien 2026 Miyazaki Prefecture Tournament

・Date: August 1, 2026 (Saturday), 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

・Venue: Central urban area of Miyazaki City, centered around Futaba Block Park

・Participants: 19 teams × 3 members = 57 participants

・Organizers: The Nippon Foundation Spogomi League / MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting

・Support: The Nippon Foundation

・Cooperation: MRT Ocean Relay Project

Championship Won by Miyakonojo KOSEN's 'Terracotta Army' Team – 19.55kg of Waste Collected!

The Miyazaki Prefecture tournament saw participation from 19 teams. The day was forecasted to be the hottest of the summer so far, with the bright summer sun shining down on Miyazaki from early morning. Participants, wearing matching uniforms and team gear, began the competition with strong determination and enthusiasm, undeterred by the heat. Each team implemented their own unique strategies, diligently collecting waste throughout the course.

After 50 minutes of intense competition, the championship was won by the second-year student team from Miyakonojo KOSEN, 'Terracotta Army' (19.55kg of waste collected / 3,921 points). In second place was Miyazaki Minami High School's 'Green Legacy Trio' (8.23kg / 1,382.5 points), and in third place was Miyazaki Gakuen's 'Team Keijou' (6.13kg / 1,094 points).

*Note: Since different types of waste are assigned different point values, it is possible for a team to collect more weight but score fewer points.

Eight Teams Present Innovative Original Tools

The 'Original Item Award' recognizes teams that design and create their own unique waste-picking tools. Eight teams participated in this category at the tournament.

At the venue, original tools showcasing each team's creativity were unveiled, including decorated collection baskets made from large cardboard boxes and tongs equipped with lights to illuminate and retrieve waste from dark crevices.

The award was won by the team from Nihon University Miyazaki High School, 'We Came Here to Pick Up Trash Today.' While most teams focused on improving collection baskets or bags, this team developed a groundbreaking tool by attaching a magnet to the end of a pole, enabling them to retrieve discarded cans from hard-to-reach places. Their exceptional creativity and practicality earned them the award.

Nihon University Miyazaki High School Team 'We Came Here to Pick Up Trash Today' Wins the Original Item Award

Total Waste Collected at the Miyazaki Prefecture Tournament: 77.57kg!

The 19 participating teams approached the competition with diverse strategies and custom tools.

The central urban area of Miyazaki, designated as the competition zone, appeared clean at first glance, but numerous hidden pieces of litter were found around vending machines, sidewalks, and building gaps. Most of the collected waste consisted of PET bottles, empty cans, cigarette butts, and umbrellas, primarily items that had been littered or overflowed from trash bins.

Participants shared feedback such as, 'There was much more trash than I expected, and it changed my perception of the city,' and 'I now want to actively participate in cleanup activities in the future.'

Comments from the Winning Team 'Terracotta Army'

The victorious team, 'Terracotta Army' from Miyakonojo KOSEN, successfully executed their strategy of collecting as much waste as possible, achieving a successful revenge after finishing as runners-up last year. Team members said, 'We're glad we were able to collect many PET bottles. We aim to achieve great results at the national tournament and will do our best.'

◼ What is 'Spogomi'?

Spogomi is short for 'Sports Garbage Collection,' a competitive sport where teams earn points based on the amount and type of waste collected within a designated area and time limit. Born in Japan in 2008 under the slogan 'Picking up trash is a sport!', Spogomi not only reduces waste but also emphasizes teamwork. Its appeal lies in the fact that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can potentially 'win' through strategy and tactics.

◼ What is 'Spogomi Koshien'?

'Spogomi Koshien' is a nationwide tournament for high school students (ages 15–18) to determine the best 'high school sports cleanup' team in Japan. Students form teams of three and collect waste within a pre-defined time and area, first aiming to become 'local champions.' The top teams then advance to the national finals to compete for the title of Japan's number one team.

'Spogomi Koshien' began in 2019 and is now in its 8th year. Centered on raising awareness about marine debris, this tournament is a project that connects people through the ocean to pass on clean seas to the next generation. We invite you to follow the courageous efforts of high school students tackling the issue of marine pollution!

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

<Organization Overview>

The Nippon Foundation Spogomi League

The Nippon Foundation Spogomi League promotes, popularizes, and raises awareness about treating garbage collection as a sport—competing and sweating while cleaning up. Through this, the organization aims to foster healthier lifestyles and transform people's awareness and behaviors toward waste, from children to adults, contributing to cleaner and more livable communities. It also seeks to integrate sports and environmental initiatives, proposing new forms of sports appeal and contributing to the development of Japan's sports industry.

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

MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting

Since its launch on July 1, 1954, MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting has served as a key information hub for southern Kyushu. The broadcaster delivers essential daily information through television and radio and actively promotes local information through various events and initiatives.

https://mrt.jp/

◼ About The Nippon Foundation

Sharing pain, hope, and the future.

Established in 1962 as Japan's largest foundation, The Nippon Foundation has been supporting a wide range of initiatives across fields such as children, disability, disaster relief, ocean conservation, and humanitarian aid—transcending race and borders—funded by grants from boat racing revenues.

https://www.ni