LEARN 03

The impact of plastic waste in the ocean on marine life

From a single piece of trash dropped in the city to its journey to the ocean.

So, what's happening?

Q

Where does ocean trash come from?

Much of the trash floating in the ocean comes from land . It is believed that more of it comes from cities than from being discarded in the ocean.

Plastic bags and bottles dropped on the road can get into gutters when it rains, flow into rivers, and eventually end up in the sea. Even if you live far from the ocean, you're not immune to this problem.

Codex Image August 31, 2026 09_47_05.png

The trash you drop gets washed away by the rain... → travels down the river... → and eventually reaches the sea.

microplastics

These are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than 5mm in size. Plastic does not decompose easily in nature and does not disappear even when it becomes small. The problem is that they are so small that they are very difficult to collect.

Plastic in the ocean, as seen in numbers.

At least 8 million tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean worldwide every year.

Estimated amount of water flowing from Japan into the sea: 11,000 to 27,000 tons per year.

・Some estimates suggest that if no measures are taken, the weight of plastic in the ocean will exceed the weight of fish by 2050.

Note that this is an "estimate".

These are estimates, not actual counts. The numbers vary depending on the survey method, and some reports suggest a higher number.

The exact amount is still unknown. However, all studies agree that "a considerable amount is leaking out."

Source: Ministry of the Environment, "2019 White Paper on Environment, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity" (introduces estimates by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation) / Ministry of the Environment, "Estimates of Marine Plastic Waste Outflow in Japan" * There is no internationally established method for estimating the amount of outflow, and the figures vary depending on the report.

Ministry of the Environment “Reiwa 1st Edition Environment, Recycling-based Society, and Biodiversity White Paper”
https://www.env.go.jp/policy/hakusyo/r01/html/hj19010301.html
Ministry of the Environment, "Estimates of Marine Plastic Waste Outflow in Japan: Results of the FY2024 Study" (PDF)
https://www.env.go.jp/content/000320690.pdf

Q

What's happening to living things?

Sea turtles are mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish and eating them. Plastic fragments are being found in the stomachs of fish and birds. Reports of these incidents are coming in from all over the world.

Furthermore, microplastics, once broken down into tiny pieces, are eaten by small creatures, which are then eaten by fish, and so on, moving through the food chain.

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① Sea turtles eat them

② Plastic found in the stomachs of fish and birds

③ These reports are coming in from all over the world.

人の体への影響については、まだ研究の途中です。分かっていないことも多く、これから明らかになっていく段階です。

Q

What problems will arise if things continue like this?

Changes that are expected to occur

- The number of living creatures is decreasing / Some creatures lose their lives by eating others or getting entangled in them.

- It becomes impossible to collect / The smaller it is, the harder it is to remove.

・漁業や観光への影響／魚が減ったり、海岸がごみで汚れたりします

• Long-lasting / Plastics take a very long time to decompose.

* The above are generally observed trends. The magnitude and progression of the impact may vary depending on the region and species.

Recovering trash once it's reached the ocean is extremely difficult. That's why preventing it from flowing into the ocean in the first place is the most reliable method.

Q

How does this connect to your otaku activities?

The ocean connects to the live music venue.

Have you noticed anything like this at or around the venue?

Individual packaging for merchandise, plastic bags, and cushioning materials.

・Plastic bottles, disposable cups

- Flyers and fans distributed in front of the venue

Disposable accessories and decorations

Even if you don't intend to drop it, if it's blown by the wind and ends up in a drain, it's headed for the sea. Taking things home, separating them for recycling, and reducing the use of disposable items in the first place—that first step can block the path to the sea.