SpoGOMI World Cup 2023: Japan's trash-picking event sweeps the city clean

A participant picks up a bag of waste from a fast food restaurant left along the street during the Japan stage of the "SpoGOMI World Cup 2023".

The competition - originating from Japan and named after "sport" and the Japanese word for trash ("gomi") - requires contestants in teams of three to collect rubbish in a designated vicinity within one hour, followed by separating it in a limited time and then weighing it.

A participant picks up trash from the street during the Japan stage of the 'SpoGOMI World Cup 2023'.

Participants carry bags of trash during the Japan stage of the "SpoGOMI World Cup 2023" in which teams pick up as much rubbish as possible, in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo on October 9, 2023.

The final competition with international competitors will take place in November in Japan.

A participant empties a plastic bottle found along the street during the Japan stage of the 'SpoGOMI World Cup 2023'.

A Participant walks back to the collection centre with a bag of trash and discarded umbrellas.

Participants sort trash they picked up while taking part in the Japan stage of the "SpoGOMI World Cup 2023"

Participants sort trash they picked up while taking part in the Japan stage of the 'SpoGOMI World Cup 2023'.