Connecting with the Community through Ethical Action at Kamando Ichiba

Kamakura Ethical Lab participated in the 28th Kamando Ichiba, held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Yuigahama area of Kamakura Seaside Park (commonly known as Kaihin-Koen). It was a valuable opportunity to expand the circle of ethical initiatives through warm exchanges with the local community.

About Kamando Ichiba

Kamando Ichiba is a community-based event that has been held continuously since 2008, cherished as a "modern marketplace" where everyone can easily gather. As part of urban development, it provides a place for local people to exchange information and wisdom about daily life, and to enjoy shopping and light meals. A notable feature is its strong promotion of the "Kamando Zero Waste Movement," actively encouraging visitors to bring their own bags, tableware, and chopsticks. This highlights an ethical perspective that values environmental consideration in daily life. For more details, please visit the official Kamando Ichiba website（https://kamandoichiba.com）

Our Exhibition and Visitor Engagement

Kamakura Ethical Lab exhibited in the "Learning Zone" area of Kamando Ichiba. As part of the "Million Action Campaign 2026," aimed at promoting Fairtrade, we conducted PR activities, information exchange, and sold Fairtrade coffee (Kamakura Roasted Coffee Fairtrade Kamakura Blend) and original tote bags made from Fairtrade cotton. Details of the campaign can be found here（https://www.kamakura-ethical-lab.org/post/news26002）

On the day of the event, we organized two participatory activities to help visitors feel more connected to ethical actions, and many people joined in.

Activity 1: Creating the Kamakura Ethical Map Together

This activity invited participants to write down and pin their favorite ethical spots in Kamakura on a map. We provided a flexible map where people could freely add places they found "wonderful" or "worth supporting," based on criteria like being "earth-friendly," "supporting the local community," or "valuing producers," as well as simply "favorite scenic views."

Results and Feedback

Our Ethical Map gathered information on a total of 22 locations. Beyond shops handling Fairtrade products, the map featured a diverse range of ethical places, including free schools, refugee centers, restaurants, and event venues. This provided an opportunity to rediscover the profound and varied ethical charm of Kamakura.

Activity 2: Ethical Action Voting Panel

Following its popularity last year, we set up a voting panel asking, "Which ethical actions would you like to see more widely adopted in the community?" Visitors participated by placing stickers next to their choices. The format allowed for multiple selections from 14 items, including actions like "eating all your food" and "repairing and reusing items."

Results and Feedback

We received a total of 260 votes. As in the previous year, the most supported actions were those that can be easily practiced in daily life, such as "eating all your food" and "using personal bags and bottles." During the voting, we heard several delightful comments like, "Ethical actions are already commonplace for me, so I'm having trouble deciding which to vote for." We were also surprised and pleased to find that about one-third of elementary school children were familiar with the term "ethical," which made us realize that the concepts of ethics and Fairtrade are gradually taking root in the community.

Gratitude for Participation and Ethical Gifts

As a token of our appreciation, participants in the above activities received "upcycled coffee beans" (rosu-mame). These are off-spec coffee beans generated during the manufacturing process that would normally be discarded, but their deliciousness remains unchanged. Provided by Sanbon Coffee Co., Ltd., the use of these beans also contributes to another ethical action: reducing food waste.

Additionally, we screened videos about Fairtrade, offering a visual opportunity to deepen understanding of ethical initiatives.

Your Actions Empower Producers Facing Climate Change

Each action collected through these participatory activities contributes 1 yen to producers in developing countries.

Specifically, this year's donations will be allocated to support producers facing severe natural disasters due to climate change, channeled through the "Climate Disaster Relief and Resilience Fund" operated by Fairtrade NAPP (Fairtrade Network of Asia and Pacific Producers). These funds will be used for recovery efforts following the massive heavy rains and floods that struck Indonesia and Sri Lanka at the end of 2025, as well as for long-term support to rebuild agricultural communities resilient to future disasters.

Every small step taken by our visitors became a direct message of encouragement to producers on the front lines of climate change, who are striving to overcome immense challenges.

Future Outlook

The valuable data gathered from everyone at this event will be utilized in Kamakura Ethical Lab's future activity plans and Kamakura City's business initiatives. We are committed to promoting more effective ethical endeavors that reflect the voices of our citizens. We look forward to your continued support of Kamakura Ethical Lab's activities.