On February 27, Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute held a special class for “Environment Day.”

The purpose of the class was to raise awareness about environmental issues, and this time we focused on the garbage problem around Takadanobaba Station, the station closest to our Japanese language school.

During the first and second periods, students learned about various impacts caused by increasing waste, including issues related to public health and the marine environment. It was a valuable opportunity for students to understand the importance of properly disposing of trash and to deepen their knowledge of recycled products.

In the third period, students from Waseda University’s “Takadanobaba Rotary Association” visited the school and spoke about their activities. The Takadanobaba Rotary Plaza is often used by many people as a meeting and gathering spot, but it is also a place where cigarette butts, cans, and plastic bottles are frequently left behind. To address this issue, the group focuses on this specific area and conducts cleanup activities twice a week, both in the morning and at night.

Learning about the efforts of university students close to their own age helped further raise our students’ awareness of environmental issues.

During the fourth period, our students went outside together with members of the Rotary Association and participated in an actual cleanup activity. Some students were surprised by the amount of litter in the streets, which they normally do not notice. However, everyone actively participated and contributed to making the streets of Takadanobaba a little cleaner.

Later, some students commented that “picking up trash was fun,” making it a meaningful opportunity to learn about environmental issues while enjoying the experience throughout the day.