Back in 1991, a surfer who couldn't stand to see his favorite beach getting dirtier every year decided to organize a mass clean-up operation. Since then, around 100 people, including fellow surfers, have been helping pick up litter every month along a 2-kilometer stretch of the Kizakihama beach in the city of Miyazaki.

"During the summer, we collect 200 to 250 bags of garbage each month," says 40-year-old Takanobu Kadogawa, the founder of the Chikyu Daisuki Club ("We love the earth club"). "Most of the litter consists of cigarette butts, empty beverage cans, and used fireworks. In the winter, we gather about 100 bags of litter."

In April 1996, Kadogawa decided to set up an Eco Club with his wife and four children, three of whom are elementary school pupils. Besides the monthly clean-up drive, Kadogawa goes out each weekday morning to pick up trash and clean public toilets.

Kadogawa developed a love for the ocean after visiting nearly 30 countries around the world as a surfer. He came to feel it was his responsibility to keep the beach he uses clean. Kizakihama once hosted an international surfing championship.

The Chikyu Daisuki Club is involved in a wide range of activities, one of them being looking after the loggerhead turtles that land on the beach between April and July every year to lay eggs. Club members mark the sites where the eggs are deposited and keep watch over them until they hatch. They then help the baby turtles find their way to the sea.

The club also tries to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear power plants and global warming.

Kadogawa is intent on leaving a positive legacy for future generations. His four children not only help collect litter and clean public toilets but also sleep on the floor without any bedding so they'll be able to sleep anywhere and be ready to help other people in case of a natural disaster. The Kadogawas also keep the lighting low in the house to use as little electricity as possible.

"Volunteer activities are really a lot of fun," Takanobu Kadogawa says. "I'm doing it because I love this planet and also because I think it's important for adults to set a good example for the kids. How can we expect the kids to respect the environment if the grown-ups are being litterbugs on the beach?"


Photos: The Kadogawas, gathered at top (two of the children are also shown at bottom), have drawn many people into enviromental activities at Kizakihama, like picking up trash and ensuring the safe hatching of turtle eggs (Takanobu Kodogawa).