Tokyo, Japan—To commemorate the International Day of Families 2019, UPF-Japan, in partnership with a local NGO, organized a clean-up project in Shibuya, Tokyo on April 27. About 70 people, including a city council member, participated in the project.
In opening the day’s activity, Mr. Bunkichiro Ose, vice-chairman of UPF-Japan’s Association of Ambassadors for Peace in South Tokyo, said: "I encourage you to think of creating peace within your family and community as you [carry out these] clean-up activities with people of other generations.”
Afterwards, Mr. Kazunori Arase, deputy secretary general of UPF-Japan, explained the theme for this year’s day, which was "Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG 13," and said: the "UN is deeply concerned about the endangerment of the environment and the safety of the family and has called on member states to immediately respond to this issue. Please consider how the problem of litter has an impact on society, including on families, through this project."
The volunteers worked in two groups to clean sidewalks along National Route 246, a major highway, in Tokyo. They picked up cans, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and more, and enjoyed the companionship of family and friends as they worked on cleaning the area. By the end of the project, they were holding garbage bags full of trash.