For readers of Global Ride, The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is already a familiar name. This independent ultra-long-distance event that spans the length of Japan is set to return in 2025 after a two-year hiatus. According to its official Instagram account, this year’s starting point will be in Hokkaido. What kind of (crazy) journey awaits this time? With the editorial team buzzing with anticipation, eager for more details, we bring you the second installment in our TJO series.
In this essay, photographer Eigo Shimojo—a rider himself—delves into the moment he first encountered the essence of TJO during its second edition in 2016, offering a glimpse into the heart of this extraordinary event.
＊You can find the previous essay here.
That said, even with just two organizers, the TJO’s official catchphrase, “Be prepared,” takes on a life beyond mere words when viewed as a shared ethos with the participants. It is both a declaration that this challenging journey is indeed an adventure and a warning against the dangers of inadequate preparation.
The phrase, widely recognized as the Boy Scouts’ motto, is a succinct and powerful mantra that guides mental and physical readiness for survival in natural environments. Naturally, it resonates deeply with the spirit of TJO—an adventure that requires constant preparedness—and recurs frequently during the journey.
Whether during a chance encounter at a convenience store where participants exchange encouragement, or when a leading rider shares crucial information about hazardous routes on social media, the phrase “Be prepared” becomes a reminder of solidarity among unseen companions on the road. It also inspires a sense of responsibility—to complete the adventure safely and return home to loved ones.
For those who embark on such adventures, it’s a mantra for self-discipline, a living word that resonates profoundly. And it is this same phrase that, in its quiet yet powerful way, supports Emmanuel and Guillaume, the two dedicated organizers working behind the scenes.
To all parties involved: when one approaches with full preparation, there’s no room for shifting responsibility onto a small-scale operation. The essence of ultra-distance lies in the participants’ shared commitment, where the line between organizer and participant blurs, requiring a certain resolve from everyone involved.
Fortunately, in a world where technology has connected us all through networks, information sharing and safety checks can be both given and received in the palm of one’s hand. While each journey ultimately belongs to the traveler, we now live in an unprecedented era where the latest updates can be shared, preparations made collectively, and challenges overcome through mutual support. Ultra-distance is no longer just a solitary, self-contained adventure in the classical sense—it’s an open adventure, created through real-time networks, and represents a new movement for modern travelers.
Words carry significant weight, but finding and expressing the right words is no easy task. In that sense, TJO’s adoption of “Be prepared” stands as a rare example of a phrase that perfectly encapsulates its essence, in both name and reality.
Next
🚴♂️The Japanese Odyssey Report Series
Second series
#01 Before Dawn
#02 The wave has arrived.
#03 “Be prepared”
#04 Moving Dots in Motion
#05 CARLOS / DAVID / PASCAL
First series
#01 Into the World of Ultra-Distance
#02 2015, aiming for July 18th.
#03 Toward The First Year of My “The Japanese Odyssey”
#04 A crazy setup.
#05 The mastermind behind the “mystery”
#06 “Japan favoritism” or “Bias towards Japan”
🚴♂️The Japanese Odyssey Official Website
https://www.japanese-odyssey.com/
Text＆Photo_ Eigo Shimojo
Profile
Eigo Shimojo
Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1974
Belongs to IPU Japan Photographers Union
He became independent in 2000 as a freelancer and established Greenhouse Studio, which handles a wide range of photography and video production.
His life’s work is pursuing underground HIPHOP and bicycle culture around the world.
Post Date：2024.12.17
