At some point this beautiful beach was covered in so much marine debris that nobody swam here anymore. Then, one local decided to return the beach to its original state, and for the next couple of months he collected trash at Shirahama every morning before work. Other islanders were inspired by his efforts, joining in the morning beach clean-up. Eventually, the debris got cleared out and Shirahama became one of Ojika's most popular beaches. It has also spread awareness about the sea pollution problem among locals and travelers, earning its SDGs Beach title.