NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref.: Hirotsugu Kimura, a 24-year-old company employee, has become the youngest Japanese to complete a solo voyage around the world on a sailboat without making any port calls or receiving supplies.

Kimura, who lives in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, made the achievement at the age of 24 years and 9 months, beating the previous record of 26 years and 10 months struck 30 years ago by marine adventurer Kojiro Shiraishi, 57.

Around 10:30 a.m., Kimura’s sailboat arrived at a pier of a yacht harbor in Nishinomiya after about 230 days of voyage, greeted by about 100 people including supporters and local citizens.

“I’m very happy to be able to come back after successfully sailing around the world,” Kimura said with a smile at a ceremony held in front of the pier to celebrate his safe return. Marine adventurer Kenichi Horie, 85, also attended the event to congratulate Kimura.

Kimura set sail in October 2023, traveled eastward across the Pacific and passed the southern tips of South America and Africa.

He crossed the finish line at the Kii Channel off Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, around 2:45 p.m. Saturday.

It was his second attempt at a nonstop solo voyage around the world. His first attempt in November 2022 was thwarted by equipment failure caused by a storm shortly after departure.

Kimura is a native of Hiji, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan. When he was in high school, he started sailing as he came to idolize Shiraishi and dream of sailing around the world.

He worked for the Maritime Self-Defense Force before moving to his current company. He pursued his ambition with the support of the company.

JIJI Press