O.C.E.A.N.& OICBC History

2005

May

Donation!Island Spirit by Achieve Co. Ltd. donates 150,000yen.

Oct.

Donation!Karahai sponsors Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. with a 100,000 yen donation.

Donation!Hot Communication (Kyosuke Ogata) sponsors Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. with a 100,000 yen donation.

2004

Jan.

Award!NPO Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. receives the prestigious "Area Development Award" from Minister of General Affairs Ano.

2003

Jan.

Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. organizes a one-day sail trip aboard the Kaisei as a pre-event to the Model United Nation Conference in Okinawa. Later, Edo, speaks at the Model United Nations at Kadena H.S. and collects signatures for the Kayo Kensho on two large banners. One banner is sent to United Nations Secretary General Kopfe Annan. O.C.E.A.N. receives an official thank you letter from Mrs. Kopfe Annan.

April

 ! Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. becomes an official NPO on Earth Day.

May

• Donation!Island Spirit (Nobu Kaneshiro) sponsors OICBC with a 600,000 yen donation.
• Donation!Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. receives a 200,000 yen donation from Seven Eleven Midori Kikin.

June

• Donation!FM Okinawa donates 130,000 yen to OICBC from a sponsored charity golf tournament.
• Okinawa Clean Coast Network's (OCCN) Cleanup Marugoto begins in June.
• 1st O.C.E.A.N. Junior Ranger Program "In Zamami" takes place with children from Kadena and Zamami.

July

O.C.E.A.N. organizes a seawall painting as an event for "OCEAN DAY." The event is broadcast live on RBC.

Aug.

 ! Edo visits Hawaii to network and build support for the O.C.E.A.N. Okinawa-Hawaii Exchange program at the World Uchinanchu Festival.

Sept.

• O.C.E.A.N. translates the new Ocean Conservancy marine debris data card into Japanese. It is introduced during Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru 2003 for the first time.
• Donation!O.C.E.A.N. receives a donation from Seven Seas (Kunio Uehara) for the Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru (ICC) at Maeda Misaki.

Oct.

Okinawa O.C.E.A.N give 4th graders at Chatan Elementary School a classroom Question and Answer session on "Marine Debris and Protecting Okinawa's Sea."

2002

March

Edo, Kenny, and Kaori travel to the U.S. to participate in the ICC Coordinators Conference in San Diego, California.

April

• OICBC member Kei Nakamura forms the "We Love Okinawa" Club at Futenma High School.
• Donation!Daiwa Securities Social Foundation supports OICBC with a 300,000 yen donation.

May

• Donation!Island Spirit (Nobu Kaneshiro) sponsors OICBC with a 600,000 yen donation.
• Japan Coast Guard creates the Okinawa Clean Coast Network after much lobbying by O.C.E.A.N. - one of the network's founding members.

June

OICBC joins the Cosmos Sekyu "Earth Conscience Campaign" Cleanup in Chatan.

July

OICBC and Ryukyu Underground join together for the 1st OICBC/Ryukyu Underground Miyagi Island Beach Cleanup & Dance Party.

Aug.

Award!OICBC is awarded by Governor Inamine during the Okinawa Eco Forum.

Sept.

OCCN officially works together with OICBC/O.C.E.A.N. during the Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru (ICC) and a record high 5,260 volunteers participate.

Nov.

Nago High School Senior Class once again presents OICBC with a donation.

2001

May

Donation!Island Spirit (Nobu Kaneshiro) officially sponsors OICBC with a 600,000 yen donation.

June

OICBC travels to Kudaka Island for the second time and organizes a cleanup with locals.

July

OICBC joins the Cosmos Sekyu "Earth Conscience Campaign" Cleanup in Yomitan.

Oct.

OICBC is presented with the Foundation for Social Encouragement of Social Contribution Award (FESCO AWARD) by Prince Hitachinomiya in Tokyo.

Nov.

Donation!Nago High School Senior Class presents OICBC with a donation.

2000

Jan.

Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. and the Okinawa Prefecture Government agree to cooperate on Environmental preservation and beautification for the G8 Summit.

June

Award!OICBC is awarded by the Japan Ministry of Environment.

July

• Edo and Kenny meet with Greenpeace International members to discuss environmental problems in Okinawa.
• OICBC members Yukio Tanaka and Emi Sugiyama form the Okinawa Ocean & Coastline Conservation Association NPO.

Sept.

 ! During this year's Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru, OICBC reaches a cumulative total of 35,000 volunteers since initiating its first cleanup in 1992. The group has also organized over 200 beach cleanups in its 8-year history.

1999

Jan.

The UNESCO Kayo Kensho initiative is extended for collecting more signatures.

Feb.

• The first O.C.E.A.N. Junior Ranger Program begins with Tokeshi Elementary School in Yomitan. (This program continued with Tokeshi Elementary School for 4 years thanks to the efforts of Yoshichika Yamauchi of the Yomitan Government Office.)
• Donation!Gilbert Gonzalez of Campaign Specialties donates his time and skill to develop the official website of Okinawa O.C.E.A.N.

Mar.

• Donation!Shigeru Furudate of Okinawa Diver's House donates office space to Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. The Mayor of Onna Village is in attendance at the official opening ceremony.
• Donation!OICBC receives a donation from a the "Lefty Charity Golf Tournament" sponsored by the Furusato "Shinko Kikin."
• OICBC member Tomokazu Gushikami creates the Naha Clean Beach Club.

April

• Donation!Seven Eleven Midori Kikin donates funds to OICBC's activities.
•  ! O.C.E.A.N. reaches the 10,000 signature mark for the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) "Year of the Ocean" Kayo Kensho initiative.

May

• Edo and Kenny become Marine Blue 21 Rangers.
• OICBC organizes its first cleanup in Kudaka Island.

June

O.C.E.A.N. organizes a special educational cleanup for children with the Shioya Kid's Association.

July

Award!OICBC receives the "Furusato Kikin" Award from the Bank of Okinawa.

1998

Mar.

 ! OICBC is featured on the TV program "Local Power."

April

 ! OICBC is featured on RBC TV's Area Report about Environmental Protection.

May

Donation!Local artist Bokunen Naka donates an original woodblock print design to be used as Okinawa's official Kayo Kensho in coordination with UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) "Year of the Ocean."

July

Award!OICBC receives an official award by the Japan Coast Guard for its activities in Marine Conservation and Beautification.

Aug.

Edo goes to the U.S. to network with other marine conservation groups (Ocean Journey).

Sept.

Students from Hokuzan High School in Nakijin form the Junior Okinawa Clean Beach Club and begin local cleanups.

1997

Feb.

OICBC participates in the International Coral Reef Symposium.

Mar.

Edo and Kenny are invited as guest speakers by the Social Welfare Association to speak about OICBC activities.

May

Edo holds a meeting with Center for Marine Conservation members and representatives from Cuba about networking.

June

Award!OICBC is awarded by the Okinawa Convention Bureau for its activities in "Environmental Preservation."

Aug.

Award!Kenny receives the TOYP Award (The Outstanding Young Person's Award) from the Okinawa Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Sept.

Ocean Safety Association sends a letter of appreciation and plaque to OICBC. Tokashiki Island joins the ICC (Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru) for the first time. 2,757 people participate in this year's ICC (Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru), ranking OICBC with the 8th most volunteers out of 76 ICC country coordinators.

Nov.

Award!Charles Becker receives the Nippon Zenkokai award from the Japanese Prime Minister.

1996

Feb.

Edo, Kenny, and Eisaku attend the "WAVE Conference" in Wakayama Prefecture.

Mar.

OICBC joins forces with the Okinawa Diving Safety Council for Coral Day. (This joint effort is still taking place each year.)

May

Edo participates in the Okinawa Fisheries Research Conference as a "Leader" in Marine Conservation.

June

OICBC organizes a "Pre-21st Century Environmental BBQ Party" and invites the island's major environmental conservation groups, lobbying to create a network.

Sept.

• Kume Island participates in the ICC (Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru) for the first time.
• PADI Japan and PADI U.S.A divers participate for the first time in Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru (ICC).

Oct.

• OICBC member Charles Becker begins the "NSGA Hanza Adopt a Beach Program."
•  ! Japan Ad Council Features OICBC in a Campaign for Saving Okinawa's marine environment. It is later followed up with a commercial that airs on national TV.

Nov.

Okinawa Environment Network is created, spearheaded by Ui Sensei and Kaori Sunagawa.

1995

Feb.

 ! OICBC is featured in the magazine Japan Eco Times.

Mar.

•  ! OICBC is featured in the magazine Jitsugyou no Sekai.
• Donation!MEIJI Nyugyo supports OIBC cleanups by donating drinks. (MEIJI's contributions lasted until 1997.)

July

OICBC members hold their first meeting announcing the creation of Okinawa Ocean Culture & Environment Action Network (O.C.E.A.N.).

Aug.

• Award!Edo receives the "TOYP (The Outstanding Young Person's Award) Grand Prix" from the Okinawa Junior Chamber of Commerce.
• Edo attends the Japan Cleanup Coordinators Meeting in Sendai.

Oct.

Edo, Kenny, and Eisaku are hired as Coastal Park Monitors for Okinawa Prefecture's Coastal Marine Park.

Dec.

Edo attends the ICC Coordinators Conference in Washington D.C.

1994

Feb.

 !  Donation!OICBC is featured on the Omakase Yamada Shokai TV program and receives a 300,000 yen donation.

June

Kenny helps to create the Wakayama Action Volunteers for the Earth (WAVE) in Wakayama Prefecture. (517 people volunteer in Wakayama's first participation in the ICC.

July

Edo and Mami visit Ishigaki and Miyako with TV personality "Kawamitsu Sensei" to drum up support for the 1994 ICC (Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru).

Sept.

Ishigaki and Miyako participate for the first time in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC/ Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru).

Oct.

Award!OICBC receives the "Action Beautification Award" from Okinawa Prefecture.

1993

March

"I Love Okinawa Campaign" begins with monthly beach cleanups around the island.

April

FM Okinawa, RBC, and Radio Okinawa all pledge PR support towards OICBC cleanups.

July

OICBC is represented at Sun Marina Resort's Summer Illusion. Diamantes' Alberto Shiroma promotes OICBC activities during free concert.

Sept.

• OICBC gets support and cooperation to promote its activities from Mr. Tokuyama and the Peaceful Love Rock Festival.
• The First Annual Clean Beach Cup Yacht Race takes place.
• OICBC networks with the Center for Marine Conservation and becomes the official Okinawa Prefecture coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).
• OICBC begins to network with the Japan Environmental Agency (JEAN) in Tokyo.

Dec.

Kenny represents OICBC at the Annual ICC Coordinators Conference in Washington D.C.

1992

Sept.

Edo is cleaning up Maeda Beach and meets Kenny, who is trying to start a volunteer beach cleanup day at the same beach. Together with friends Eisaku Tawata, Yoshikazu Kuwae, and Bruce Roberts they start the Okinawa International Clean Beach Club (OICBC).

Oct.

OICBC's first Beach Cleanup takes place at Maeda Beach with over 70 volunteers hauling away several truckloads of trash. Local women from Maeda make over one hundred onigiri (rice balls) and hamburgers are also donated from one member for lunch. Sun Marina Resort supplies drinks, Ryukyu Mura supplies trucks, and Malibu Resort provides a free BBQ at the end of the day.