Matsuzawa presents 'Zero Waste Rugby Match' to be held on May 17
Game partner Matsuzawa will collect used household cooking oil from attendees at a home game venue. The oil will be used as a raw material for SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), connecting sports and resource circulation.
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BIG BLUES (Yachiyo City, Chiba; Representative Director: Ken Shimomura), a general incorporated association, will hold a 'Zero Waste Rugby Match' in collaboration with game partner Matsuzawa (Kobe City, Hyogo; 4th generation successor: Hironori So) at their home game on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Yachiyo City General Ground.
■ Overview
Attendees are invited to bring their used household cooking oil in plastic bottles to a collection booth at the venue. The collected oil will be utilized as a raw material for SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry.
'Just bring your household's used cooking oil while you're here to watch the game, and you can participate in environmental contribution'—Yachiyo proposes this new spectator experience.
*Zero waste means eliminating waste and garbage.
Event Name: Matsuzawa presents Zero Waste Rugby Match
Date & Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026. Gates open at 12:00, Kick-off at 13:00 (subject to match start time)
Venue: Yachiyo City General Ground (Yachiyo City, Chiba)
Collection Target: Used household cooking oil (please bring in plastic bottles), and any remaining unused cooking oil.
How to Participate: Please hand over your plastic bottle with used cooking oil at the collection booth upon arrival.
Participation Perk: A family photo taken and gifted on the spot by the team photographer.
Participation Fee: Free (match viewing is also free)
Expected Attendance: Approximately 300 people
■ Background and Purpose
BIG BLUES signed a hometown agreement with Yachiyo City in February 2026 and is active under the banner of 'regional contribution through rugby.' Meanwhile, Matsuzawa, a 73-year-old resource recovery business based in Kobe, is promoting the 'SAFriends' project, led by 4th generation successor Hironori So, to produce SAF raw materials from used cooking oil.
By combining the 'excitement of sports' with the 'mechanism of resource circulation,' we aim to create a place where attendees can naturally participate in environmental contribution while enjoying the game. This initiative is the first step in evolving the rugby match venue into a 'circular stadium.'
■ From Used Cooking Oil to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel)
1. Put used cooking oil from tempura, fried foods, etc., at home into a used plastic bottle.
2. Bring it to the collection booth at Yachiyo City General Ground on the day of the match.
3. The collected used cooking oil goes through a refining process and is supplied as a raw material for SAF.
4. It is used as aircraft fuel, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels.
*SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is an aviation fuel produced from biomass raw materials such as used cooking oil. It is said to reduce life-cycle CO2 emissions by up to about 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
■ Participation Perk: Family Photo Shoot by Team Photographer
Attendees who bring used cooking oil will receive one family photo taken on the spot by the BIG BLUES team photographer as a gift.
Take home a memory of coming to watch the game as a family and a memento of participating in environmental contribution, all amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the rugby venue. Enjoy a memorable day that combines match viewing, environmental action, and a wonderful family moment all at once.
■ Initiative as a Game Partner
This event is planned and operated by Matsuzawa, a 73-year-old resource recovery company, as the game partner for the day. Matsuzawa will apply its expertise in used cooking oil collection, cultivated in the Kansai region, at the match venue in BIG BLUES' hometown of Yachiyo City, delivering a new spectator experience of 'sports × resource circulation' to all attendees.
Hironori So, the 4th generation successor of Matsuzawa, will personally operate the collection booth at the venue.
■ About BIG BLUES Yachiyo Bay Tokyo
General Incorporated Association BIG BLUES is a rugby team belonging to the Top East League Division 3 of the Kanto Rugby Football Union. After signing a hometown agreement with Yachiyo City, Chiba in February 2026, the team aims to be a community-rooted sports team under the philosophy of 'giving back to society through rugby,' also focusing on next-generation development through its academy business. For the 2026 season, all players and staff are dedicated to achieving the long-awaited promotion to a higher league.
Official Website: https://big-blues-rugby.com
Representative Director: Ken Shimomura
■ Matsuzawa
■ Overview
Attendees are invited to bring their used household cooking oil in plastic bottles to a collection booth at the venue. The collected oil will be utilized as a raw material for SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry.
'Just bring your household's used cooking oil while you're here to watch the game, and you can participate in environmental contribution'—Yachiyo proposes this new spectator experience.
*Zero waste means eliminating waste and garbage.
Event Name: Matsuzawa presents Zero Waste Rugby Match
Date & Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026. Gates open at 12:00, Kick-off at 13:00 (subject to match start time)
Venue: Yachiyo City General Ground (Yachiyo City, Chiba)
Collection Target: Used household cooking oil (please bring in plastic bottles), and any remaining unused cooking oil.
How to Participate: Please hand over your plastic bottle with used cooking oil at the collection booth upon arrival.
Participation Perk: A family photo taken and gifted on the spot by the team photographer.
Participation Fee: Free (match viewing is also free)
Expected Attendance: Approximately 300 people
■ Background and Purpose
BIG BLUES signed a hometown agreement with Yachiyo City in February 2026 and is active under the banner of 'regional contribution through rugby.' Meanwhile, Matsuzawa, a 73-year-old resource recovery business based in Kobe, is promoting the 'SAFriends' project, led by 4th generation successor Hironori So, to produce SAF raw materials from used cooking oil.
By combining the 'excitement of sports' with the 'mechanism of resource circulation,' we aim to create a place where attendees can naturally participate in environmental contribution while enjoying the game. This initiative is the first step in evolving the rugby match venue into a 'circular stadium.'
■ From Used Cooking Oil to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel)
1. Put used cooking oil from tempura, fried foods, etc., at home into a used plastic bottle.
2. Bring it to the collection booth at Yachiyo City General Ground on the day of the match.
3. The collected used cooking oil goes through a refining process and is supplied as a raw material for SAF.
4. It is used as aircraft fuel, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels.
*SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is an aviation fuel produced from biomass raw materials such as used cooking oil. It is said to reduce life-cycle CO2 emissions by up to about 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
■ Participation Perk: Family Photo Shoot by Team Photographer
Attendees who bring used cooking oil will receive one family photo taken on the spot by the BIG BLUES team photographer as a gift.
Take home a memory of coming to watch the game as a family and a memento of participating in environmental contribution, all amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the rugby venue. Enjoy a memorable day that combines match viewing, environmental action, and a wonderful family moment all at once.
■ Initiative as a Game Partner
This event is planned and operated by Matsuzawa, a 73-year-old resource recovery company, as the game partner for the day. Matsuzawa will apply its expertise in used cooking oil collection, cultivated in the Kansai region, at the match venue in BIG BLUES' hometown of Yachiyo City, delivering a new spectator experience of 'sports × resource circulation' to all attendees.
Hironori So, the 4th generation successor of Matsuzawa, will personally operate the collection booth at the venue.
■ About BIG BLUES Yachiyo Bay Tokyo
General Incorporated Association BIG BLUES is a rugby team belonging to the Top East League Division 3 of the Kanto Rugby Football Union. After signing a hometown agreement with Yachiyo City, Chiba in February 2026, the team aims to be a community-rooted sports team under the philosophy of 'giving back to society through rugby,' also focusing on next-generation development through its academy business. For the 2026 season, all players and staff are dedicated to achieving the long-awaited promotion to a higher league.
Official Website: https://big-blues-rugby.com
Representative Director: Ken Shimomura
■ Matsuzawa