The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is more than just a cycling event set across the Japanese archipelago. It’s a journey—beyond a journey—a true adventure, a quest, perhaps even a form of creation. The second installment of this series begins with a reflection on the riders, along with photographer Eigo Shimojo, as they set out on their routes following the pre-ride briefing the day before.
＊You can find the previous essay here.
The day after the briefing, on an unspecified date in September 2016, I embarked on my first field coverage of The Japanese Odyssey. My task was to chase down nameless cyclists from all over the world, scattered like dots across Japan. There was no turning back from the journey I had set out on.
I had to track them day and night, photograph them, and hear their stories along the way. Since that moment, every autumn has been consumed by this work: driving my old van, sacrificing sleep and meals to follow the event. Over the roughly two weeks of the race, I would cover 4,000 kilometers. It wasn’t what I had planned or hoped for, but that’s how things turned out. Perhaps there was an option to quit, but I couldn’t see it.
From the sleep-deprived driver’s seat, every road stretched infinitely, mirroring the endless lines of the GPS map on my screen. Somewhere in the night skies ahead, where countless stars sparkled, I waged a solitary battle, searching for a nameless point of light.
In chasing these “mummies,” I, predictably, became one myself. I had become captivated, a willing prisoner of this enigmatic journey.
Eight years have passed, and after a hiatus due to the pandemic, The Japanese Odyssey resumed in 2023. In the deepening autumn of November, cyclists from all over the world once again gathered at Kagoshima’s Sakurajima, rekindling the familiar joy of ultra-distance riders. What started with just four participants eight years ago has now grown to over 70. Many are repeat participants, and I’m especially pleased to see an increasing number of Japanese riders joining the event.
The routes devised by Emmanuel and Guillaume remain as crazy and brutal as ever—a shared sentiment among seasoned cyclists. The true essence of TJO lies in embracing this madness and the sheer violence of the challenge, with riders laughing through tears in the mountains.
As for me, I continue to lurk in the darkness, chasing their faces with my lens. Still the same oddball, unchanged after all these years.
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In the next installment, we’ll dive into the bold gear choices and remarkable stories of the riders who set off on the long-awaited TJO. Stay tuned!
🚴♂️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
#06 TOM / GUILLAUME / EMMANUEL
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：2024.12.20
