July 30th "Sandal Bye-Bye Day" Event to Teach Water Safety: "Don't Chase What Was Washed Away"

Event flyer for "Sandal Bye-Bye Summer Picture Book & Kamishibai Storytelling Session"

NPO AQUAkids safety project (Representative: Emi Sugawara) will hold the parent-child event "Summer Picture Book & Kamishibai Storytelling Session" on July 30th, "Sandal Bye-Bye Day," at the parent-child restaurant Marl Bentencho.

Summer vacation is the season when drowning accidents involving children increase.

In May of this year, a 14-year-old junior high school student fell into a pond while trying to retrieve a ball in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and was critically injured. Accidents where people drown while chasing after objects can happen not only to young children but also to junior high and high school students, and adults.

"#SandalByeBye," which NPO AQUAkids safety project is spreading nationwide, is a keyword for drowning accident prevention that conveys the life-saving action at the water's edge: "Don't chase what was washed away."

Sandal Bye-Bye Logo

July 30th was designated as "Sandal Bye-Bye Day" based on the wordplay of 7 (nagasareta - washed away), 3 (sandal), and 0 (oikakenai - don't chase).

At the event, to help parents and children learn this message in a fun way, there will be summer picture book readings, a "Sandal Bye-Bye" kamishibai (paper play), and a trial fitting of children's life jackets.

Emi Sugawara, Representative of NPO AQUAkids safety project

The instructor is Emi Sugawara, the originator of Sandal Bye-Bye and representative of NPO AQUAkids safety project, who also works as an instructor for NHK E Tele's "Mainichi Sukusuku." She will convey knowledge that can be immediately useful during the upcoming summer vacation to children in an easy-to-understand manner.

[Event Overview] "Sandal Bye-Bye Summer Picture Book & Kamishibai Storytelling Session"

Date & Time: July 30, 2026 (Thu) 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Venue: Parent-child restaurant Marl Bentencho (UR Isoji Park Building 1, Unit 104, 2-12-1 Isoji, Minato Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)

Participation Fee: Free

[Request for Coverage]

Summer vacation is a season when drowning accidents increase. We would be grateful if you could cover this initiative to protect children's lives as preventive reporting, rather than after an accident has occurred.

This is an event where parents and children can learn life-saving knowledge while having fun, through kamishibai and picture book readings, and life jacket trial fittings.

We also hope that many people will learn about the "Sandal Bye-Bye Day" initiative, which was born from the wordplay of "7 (washed away) - 3 (sandal) - 0 (don't chase)."

We kindly request your consideration for coverage as an initiative to "protect children's lives during summer vacation" and "prevent drowning accidents."

[Contact for Coverage Inquiries]

NPO AQUAkids safety project Contact: Sugawara

Email: [email protected]

HP: https://aquaproject721.wixsite.com/website/sandal-bye-bye