Surprising
relationship
between soccer
and sustainability.
Takumi Minamino. He has grown into an ace of the Japan national team, both in name and reality, with his performances in Europe and
setting a record of goals in seven consecutive games in the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Sustainable. It is
an effort for all humankind to try to solve global issues on the premise of “sustainability”
However, Minamino still says, “I don't know anything yet.” And he said, “So I want to know.”
So, first of all, So, first
of all, we (the editorial department of “MINAMINO REPORT”) decided to introduce Minamino to examples of sustainable activities in
the soccer world, which is the most familiar to him.
The trigger was an unprecedented event that happened when Minamino was a high school student.
In recent years, there have been many sustainable initiatives in the soccer world.
I feel that such efforts are increasing, but there are many things I don't know and don't understand.
"MINAMINO REPORT" started with that feeling of "I don't know yet"?
Yes.
First of all, I would like to talk about sustainable topics around Minamino. Minamino, what made you interested in contributing to society?
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. I was definitely in high school.
What kind of initiative was that?
It was reported that soccer players playing in Europe wrote messages on their uniforms to encourage those affected by the disaster.
You've seen messages from Atsuto Uchida in various media, haven't you?
When I saw him, I remember the first time I realized that athletes have the power to inspire others even when they are not competing.
Nowadays, the number of players who contribute to society outside the field has increased. Mr. Shinji Kagawa wants to give children a dream, so he creates opportunities to meet fans directly, and Mr. Seiichiro Maki, a former japan national team, is involved in reconstruction support activities for the Kumamoto earthquake. Are there any social contribution activities that you are consciously working on?
I don't have anything that I can proudly say, “I'm working on this.” There are things we do in our daily lives, such as reducing plastic waste as much as possible and turning off the lights frequently. But from now on, I would like to think about what kind of problems my actions are connected to in the world.
In fact, there are so many sustainable initiatives in the soccer world
Let's move on to the main topic Speaking of football, there is the Qatar World Cup as a topic that cannot be removed this year. It seems that preparations are steadily progressing locally, but do you know that a stadium that can be dismantled is being built?
No, I learned it for the first time. What a great idea!
“Stadium 974” (40,000 capacity) stands out among the eight stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Freight containers are used as the main building material. For the first time in history as a World Cup stadium, "a stadium built for the tournament and completely dismantled after the tournament".
At international sport events, various opinions are exchanged about the future operation of stadiums and other “legacy” facilities. The fact that it can be dismantled is truly “sustainable”.
Speaking of stadiums, once built, it's normal to stay on the land for a long time.There are no earthquakes in England, where I played, so there are many historic buildings, including stadiums.
There is still the issue of maintenance for an aging stadium.
Certainly. But with a stadium that can be dismantled like this Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, there is no need to worry about the future.
The day may come when Minamino himself will play at that stadium.
Yes. I don't know much about soccer, but I am keenly aware that this kind of sustainable movement is on the rise. I think it's a good thing that through a global event like the World Cup, we can turn our attention to sustainable activities and have an opportunity to become an interest in them.
There is another interesting example of a stadium. Did you know that some stadiums are equipped with solar power systems?
Is there such a stadium?
The German Bundesliga soccer team SC Freiburg has installed solar panels at its home stadium, and the electricity generated by the sunlight is used for lawn care and other purposes.
SC Freiburg is based in Freiburg, Germany, which is known as an environmental city. The new stadium will open in 2021. As the first solar-powered football stadium, it is expected to be CO2-neutral, with solar panels integrated into the roof and heating using recycled energy generated from a nearby manufacturing plant. Other features include charging stations for electric vehicles (10 out of a total of 2,000 bays) and plug-in spots for e-bikes, scooters and smartphones.
I didn't know that at all. I see, so electricity is also used for curing the lawn... If the stadium doesn't have electricity, we can't play there. Come to think of it, how is electricity produced in Europe?
Europe is said to have a higher proportion of renewable energy, such as wind power and biomass, in addition to hydroelectric power, than Japan.
Certainly, I felt that in Europe, there are large propellers for wind power generation everywhere.Even in a casual life, there are many things to realize.
Knowing can change that's why I want to know.
I think Minamino also likes fashion, but is there anything you are conscious of when choosing items?
I haven't been very conscious of it before, but recently I've become interested in things that seem good for the environment, even though I don't know what they are.
For example, what kind of products?
I have running shoes made from marine plastic waste, and I wear them many time. I really like the design as well. But it's not just about whether or not it's cool, but when you know the story behind the item, such as how it's environmentally friendly, you'll feel even more attached to it, and above all, it feels good.
Interest in marine plastics is growing worldwide, and companies and brands are carrying out various activities. For example, since 2017, Adidas has collaborated with the environmental protection group PARLEY FOR THE OCEANS to host the global movement “RUN FOR THE OCEANS” against the problem of marine plastic pollution. In 2022, we will conduct a global trial to collect plastic waste equivalent to one plastic bottle from coastal areas every 10 minutes of driving time.
If the standard of consideration for the environment can be established, the way we enjoy fashion and the way we select items will change. In recent years, some fashion brands have started to refrain from using fur. Recently, it seems that something called “mushroom leather” has also come out.
Mushrooms, do you mean mushrooms? How about mushrooms on leather...?
That's interesting. It seems to be an artificial leather produced by cultivating mushroom mycelium.
Leather alternative material “Mylo™” is a mushroom mycelium (root-like filamentous tissue composed of fungi) developed by American biotech company “Bolt Threads”. A new material born from Tsuchiya Kaban in Japan has been prototyping new material models using Mylo™ since the summer of 2021, and has released a total of six prototypes, including school bags, bags, and accessories.
It's something that keeps its strength. very.
When it comes to the idea of caring for the lives of animals, there is a food culture, but there is also a “vegan” style. Are any of your teammates or staff vegan?
There was a staff member on the previous team who didn't eat meat, milk, or butter at all. But I think they ate fish and eggs. Do vegan and vegetarian diets have any religious influences?
No, it seems that you feel sustainability in your lifestyle of not eating meat or fish.
What kind of place is sustainable?
The United Nations has announced that the greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock industry are greater than emissions from all modes of transportation, including cars, planes and ferries combined. Wiegans and vegetarians are making a statement that they want to reduce the burden placed on the earth by producing meat.
I see. It may be a manifestation of the high environmental awareness of Europeans.
Lastly, please tell us about your supporters. In Europe, I feel that many supporters genuinely enjoy watching soccer games. What do you think?
In Europe, watching soccer games is not just entertainment, but a part of culture and life. For example, in Europe, a certain grandfather is a supporter and his father is also a supporter, so I have been a supporter of the local team since I was born.
It is truly sustainable.
Certainly. As if it were built into our DNA, it continues for three or four generations. Originally, sustainable initiatives may have to be taken for granted. But there are still many things I don't know. That's why I want to see it with my own eyes and think seriously about what we can do.
