Japanese tourist carries out beach cleanup in Puri, raises awareness | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Akie Doi (38), a music and yoga teacher from Kanazawa, Japan, fell in love with Puri during her maiden visit to Odisha in 2022. Since then, she has made regular visits to the state. Her visit this time has turned into a mission for cleanliness as she is picking up garbage from the Puri beach to keep the seashore tidy, drawing the attention of locals, hoteliers and tourists alike.
After arriving in Puri about two months ago, Doi has been collecting rubbish from the beach area while encouraging others to use proper waste disposal facilities. She displays a banner featuring Lord Jagannath’s image with cleanliness messages, which she carries throughout the Puri marine drive to raise awareness.
Each morning, the Japanese visitor spends considerable time walking across the sprawling beach, collecting litter. “I simply love doing it. The administration has engaged sweepers, who are lifting garbage and keeping the beach clean. I am doing my bit to keep our environment clean. I am requesting people on the beach to use dustbins,” Doi told TOI.
Her efforts to maintain the pilgrim town’s cleanliness has received appreciation from locals. Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of India Japan Friendship Centre, said, “I provided her with gloves and a waste collection bag. She methodically picks up plastic bottles, food wrappers and other waste that some visitors leave behind. Several other Japanese tourists joined her initiative in the last few days.”
Doi interacts through basic English and simple gestures to explain proper waste disposal practices to others, indicating available bins and demonstrating their proper usage.
The Puri district administration has recognised her efforts. “It is heart-warming to see the foreign tourist expressing her dedication for clean Puri and Swachh Bharat mission. From our side, we have been conducting regular campaigns, sensitising people to maintain the cleanliness and sanctity of the spiritual and tourist destination. We hope the Japanese visitor’s example will inspire more tourists to be mindful of cleanliness during their visits to Puri,” said Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.
After arriving in Puri about two months ago, Doi has been collecting rubbish from the beach area while encouraging others to use proper waste disposal facilities. She displays a banner featuring Lord Jagannath’s image with cleanliness messages, which she carries throughout the Puri marine drive to raise awareness.
Each morning, the Japanese visitor spends considerable time walking across the sprawling beach, collecting litter. “I simply love doing it. The administration has engaged sweepers, who are lifting garbage and keeping the beach clean. I am doing my bit to keep our environment clean. I am requesting people on the beach to use dustbins,” Doi told TOI.
Her efforts to maintain the pilgrim town’s cleanliness has received appreciation from locals. Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of India Japan Friendship Centre, said, “I provided her with gloves and a waste collection bag. She methodically picks up plastic bottles, food wrappers and other waste that some visitors leave behind. Several other Japanese tourists joined her initiative in the last few days.”
Doi interacts through basic English and simple gestures to explain proper waste disposal practices to others, indicating available bins and demonstrating their proper usage.
The Puri district administration has recognised her efforts. “It is heart-warming to see the foreign tourist expressing her dedication for clean Puri and Swachh Bharat mission. From our side, we have been conducting regular campaigns, sensitising people to maintain the cleanliness and sanctity of the spiritual and tourist destination. We hope the Japanese visitor’s example will inspire more tourists to be mindful of cleanliness during their visits to Puri,” said Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.
