From TIMEWELL
This is Hamamoto from TIMEWELL Inc.
"I Want to Solve Problems Around Me — But I Don't Know Where to Start"
"I want to solve problems around me, but when I try to turn an idea into something real, I don't know where to start." If that resonates with you, why not join WARP?
Hidetaka Matsubara, who works in quality assurance at an airline, used the skills he learned at WARP to build an app for tackling ocean plastic pollution. WARP is not only a place to learn how to build apps — it holds the potential to help you take a first step toward solving social challenges. Here are the essentials from Matsubara-san's story.
Originally from Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, and working on ocean plastic issues since 2023 alongside his main job, drawing on his own personal experiences. Active in a wide range of activities including beach clean-ups and public talks. At WARP, he experienced creating and implementing an application for the first time.
The Origin of Hidetaka Matsubara's Participation in WARP — A Story Woven by the Ocean of Ishigaki Island Learning and Growth at WARP — The Joy and Struggle of Turning Ideas Into Reality Matsubara-san's Original Card Game App for Taking on Ocean Plastic Pollution The Possibilities That WARP Opens Up — Your Idea Could Change the World
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The Origin of Hidetaka Matsubara's Participation in WARP — A Story Woven by the Ocean of Ishigaki Island
— Please start by introducing yourself.
Matsubara: I work in quality assurance at an airline's maintenance division. I am originally from Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and when I returned to my hometown for the first time in years, I saw garbage washed up on the beach where I used to walk as a child.
I used to think it was someone else's problem, but when I brought my own children there, I realized that this was not how it was supposed to be. That was what prompted me to start thinking about whether there was something I could do about ocean plastic.
— I see. And that led you to join WARP?
— I see. And that led you to join WARP?
Matsubara: Yes. I learned about the WARP program and joined with the excitement of feeling like I might be able to build something myself. At WARP, I felt that I could turn what I was thinking into reality, make modifications quickly, and even hold my own in conversations about outsourcing in the future.
Learning and Growth at WARP — The Joy and Struggle of Turning Ideas Into Reality
— What did you do at WARP?
Matsubara: I was mainly a student, taking the content I was taught and applying it to what I was thinking about to build an app. For example, I wondered whether beach cleanup activities could be made visible, and I tried thinking through requirements while referencing existing services. Taking the lectures, I felt the difficulty of actually building things while gradually turning what I was thinking into reality.
— What specifically did you build?
Matsubara: To make beach cleanup activities visible, I thought about a service where uploading photos you have taken earns some kind of incentive. By accumulating data, I thought it could lead to identifying locations where garbage tends to collect.
— I see. Were there things you struggled with?
Matsubara: When I Started Thinking About the Details
Matsubara: When I started thinking about the details — how to retain data, how to allocate points — it felt endless. So I decided to start with the simple parts first: user registration, the point system, and other basic elements.
Building an application from scratch also felt challenging. I had almost no experience with app development, so there was a gap between what I was being told and what I was actually doing. However, since I had once built an app for process improvement at work, I was able to approach it while keeping that image in mind.
— Did you discover anything at WARP?
Matsubara: Things I used to think "that seems difficult" — I started to feel "maybe I can do that." My own level might not be sufficient, but having people at WARP who can teach me and people I can consult feels like a great asset.
Matsubara-san's Original Card Game App for Taking on Ocean Plastic Pollution
— After learning everything from app creation to implementation at WARP, what activities have you been doing?
Matsubara: I had the opportunity to teach a two-hour lesson at an elementary school, and I thought the children would not find it interesting if they just listened to me talk, so I created a card game app where they could learn about ocean plastic while playing.
— Could you briefly describe the game?
Matsubara: Players Draw Event Cards and Action Cards Related to the Plastic Problem
Matsubara: Players draw event cards and action cards related to the plastic problem, and the ocean's pollution level changes depending on the action they choose. While having fun, you can experience how your own choices change the world.
The children were far more engaged than I expected — they played the game many times. It seemed like they realized things beyond what I wanted to convey through the game. I felt the importance of not just teaching, but creating a state where children can absorb and think for themselves.
— That is wonderful. What would you like to connect this to going forward?
Matsubara: First, I want to create more educational materials that can provide awareness through games like this. My goal is to be able to provide content tailored to different challenges, even as the target audience or region changes. In the future, I would like to connect this to a service that can record and share beach cleanup activities.
▼ A card game app created by Matsubara-san that allows you to learn about the ocean plastic challenge while playing
The Possibilities That WARP Opens Up — Your Idea Could Change the World
— Finally, who would you recommend WARP to?
Matsubara: I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in app development — especially those who have thought "I wish there was an app for that." Even if you do not know how to build it, at WARP you can learn together and progress. Even if you get stuck along the way, the instructors are there to consult with, so it is reassuring.
— Please Share a Message With Our Readers
— Please share a message with our readers.
Matsubara: I think many of you have things in your daily life that you think "it would be great if this could happen." WARP is the place where you can gain the skills to make that happen. The skills you learn should be applicable to solving other challenges as well. WARP is not just a place to learn app development — it is a place to learn how to solve challenges. That is how I feel. If you have even a small amount of interest, please try joining WARP. A new world will open up.
Hearing Matsubara-san's story, I was deeply moved by his passion for tackling ocean plastic pollution and his attitude of putting the skills he learned at WARP to use in solving social challenges.
I was reminded that app development is not the goal — it is a means to make the world better.
I also felt genuine excitement hearing about the world Matsubara-san is creating — one where his activities give awareness to many people and become a catalyst for action.
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