How This Japanese Manicurist Is Turning Ocean Waste Into Innovation

Naomi Arimoto, a Japanese manicurist, was deeply moved by the horrifying sight of plastic waste in the ocean. Determined to make a difference, she embarked on an expedition to repurpose discarded plastic into art.

Naomi often visits the beaches near her home in Kanagawa Prefecture, where she sieves the sand to collect tiny bits of plastic. She transforms these fragments into decorative tips, which are then applied to false nails. This innovative idea came to her during community cleanups along the coastline.

A spinal condition led Arimoto to leave her career as a social worker and open a nail salon in 2018. In 2021, she began using umigomi—or "sea trash"—to create stunning nail designs.

To craft these unique nails, Arimoto first washes the collected plastics in fresh water and sorts them by colour. She then attaches the pieces to a metal ring and melts them to form beautiful discs, which serve as the foundation for her designs.

One of her salon customers, Kyoko Kurokawa, 57, shared her thoughts on Arimoto’s creativity:

"I know there are other things made of recycled materials, like toilet paper and other daily necessities, but I had no idea you could have nails too, that was a surprise." 

At ¥12,760 (₹7,000), Naomi's nail sets are available at her salon. While she describes her efforts as a "drop in the ocean," they represent a pioneering achievement in environmental conservation. She comments on her idea: "I hope that by putting these in front of people's eyes, on their fingertips, they'll enjoy fashion while also becoming more aware of environmental issues."  

Why Is Plastic Pollution In Oceans Concerning?

According to the UN Environment Programme, plastics including microplastics are now ubiquitous in our natural environment. They are becoming part of the Earth's fossil record and a marker of the anthropocene, our current geological era. They have even given their name to a new marine microbial habitat called the "plastisphere."

Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals are killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that makeup about 40 per cent of the world's ocean surfaces. At current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050!