The reality seen on the coast of Tsushima

My hometown, Tsushima, is a beautiful island surrounded by blue sea.

However, there was a lot of trash washed up on the shoreline.

Plastic bottles, styrofoam, pieces of fishing gear...as far as the eye could see, there was plastic waste strewn about that had washed up from overseas.

The ocean that was so beautiful when I was a child became a spectacle of rubbish by the time I became an adult.

I wondered why it was so dirty, but before I knew it, I got used to it.

But somewhere in my heart, I always felt uneasy.

Can't we do something about this trash?

First of all, why does so much plastic end up in the ocean?

Even as I thought about this, I didn't know what specifically I should do, so I just had to accept the reality.

Garbage in Tsushima

My encounter with Patagonia's Frisbee

Recently, I was shocked by Patagonia's "Flying Disc (Frisbee)."

Amazingly, they were selling flying discs made 100% from plastic waste that had washed up on the coastline of Tsushima City.

When I first learned about it, I was surprised and thought, "Wow, you can do that?"

Because I never imagined that the "fuzzy things" I had been witnessing all my life would be transformed into toys.

Frisbees are a fun item that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

Every time I play with them at the beach or in the park, I think to myself, "This was originally trash in the ocean..."

I think it's really amazing that products like this can bring environmental issues closer to home.

Environmental issues and the potential for play

To be honest, I'm sure there are many people who think, "I know environmental issues are important, but I don't know what to do about them."

However, I felt that being able to raise issues through "play" in this way was a great way.

I myself will never forget the sight I saw on the coast of Tsushima, and I still think about it today.

However, if we have ideas like this Frisbee that can solve problems from a new perspective, perhaps we can change the future.

If this Frisbee becomes more widely used, more people will be able to raise their environmental awareness while playing with it. I would like to try using one myself and tell my friends, "Actually, this is made from ocean trash."

What you can do Protecting the environment through hat making.

I was so moved by Patagonia's efforts that it made me start thinking again about what I could do.

The garbage that washes up on the shores of Tsushima may not be cleaned up by the efforts of individuals alone.

But if these ideas become more widely known, the situation may slowly change.

The fashion industry creates new trends one after another, but behind the scenes, a huge amount of clothing is discarded. Rather than following trends, it is more important to "create things that will be loved for a long time."

We use durable leather and high-quality materials to create hats that improve with time. The more you use it, the more comfortable it becomes, and with proper care you can wear it for years or even decades. We believe that such hats are truly valuable items.

Creating long-lasting items while being considerate of the environment - that is the future we aim for through hat making.