What is the Rumored Japanese Odyssey? #03
Toward The First Year of My “The Japanese Odyssey”


Table of Contents

1. The Full Picture Remains Unseen
2. Dot Watchers

1. The Full Picture Remains Unseen

As the new year began, the second edition of The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) felt much more welcoming to me, eager for revenge after the previous year.

The official website was more detailed, even including specific route information.

The event starts at Nihonbashi.

Throughout the text outlining the event’s philosophy and overview, I sensed the organizers’ growing enthusiasm and respect for Japan, the host country, even more so than the previous year.

The site was still only available in English, likely because they were, like other ultra-distance races, aiming to attract participants from around the globe.

From The Japanese Odyssey official website

However, just like the previous year, there was no Japanese site to be found. Questions lingered—are any Japanese involved in organizing this event, and is there even room for that? These uncertainties continued to flash in my mind, as they did the year before. Regardless,

I was determined to grasp the full picture.

That year, I resolved to carry out my coverage of the event.

2. Dot Watchers

As part of my pre-event preparations, I first reviewed the rules and then began analyzing the designated checkpoints and predicting the possible route.

One of TJO’s unique features is the checkpoint system.

Participants must pass through (clear) all officially designated checkpoints in order to be recognized as finishers.

To verify these passes, every participant is required to install an official GPS device on their bike, which is provided before the race.

Thanks to GPS, the real-time location of every participant is reflected on a map provided by the official tracking service on the internet, alongside individual icons.

This allows not only the organizers but also the participants and their family and friends to track precise location data 24 hours a day throughout the race.

Several companies in Europe and the U.S. offer this service, which is extremely useful for safety management. Many races use this system, and without it, the development of today’s ultra-distance races would likely not have been possible.

Incidentally, the participant icons displayed on the tracking service are commonly referred to as ‘dots.’ Enthusiastic ultra-distance race fans cheer on these ‘dots’ on the map, often with a beer in hand.

While it may seem like an activity for true enthusiasts, it’s surprisingly fun once you try it.

These fans are called ‘dot watchers,’ and they quietly support participants by sending encouraging messages as they struggle in solitude.

All the while, he’s getting cheers from Dot-watchers.


“To be continued”

Next time
“A crazy setup.”

🚴‍♂️The Japanese Odyssey Official Website
https://www.japanese-odyssey.com/

🚴‍♂️What is the Rumored Japanese Odyssey?
#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”


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.

EVENT
What is the Rumored Japanese Odyssey? #01
Into the World of Ultra-Distance

Far Away. For the past decade, events and races known as ultra-long-distance have been emerging worldwide, surpassing the realm of long-distance cycling. These events cover thousands of kilometers, taking riders across countries and prefectural borders, over mountains and rivers, over the course of a week to half a month. With no aid stations or support vehicles, cyclists must rely solely on themselves until they reach the finish line. These grueling rides have been steadily gaining attention among cyclists in the know. While ‘brevets’ are well-known in Japan, recently, a niche group of cyclists has turned their passionate gaze toward ‘The Japanese Odyssey.’ This even […]

EVENT
What is the Rumored Japanese Odyssey? #02
2015, aiming for July 18th.

A serialized essay by photographer Eigo Shimojo, who continues to follow ‘The Japanese Odyssey,’ an ultra-long-distance and intensely core ride event held in Japan. The second installment covers the spirit of self-support that sustains ultra-long-distance rides and the journey leading up to his first participation…? Table of Contents 1. Ultra-Distance and Self-Supported2. The Pioneering ‘The Transcontinental Race’ 1. Ultra-Distance and Self-Supported To succinctly describe the characteristics of ‘The Japanese Odyssey’ (TJO), there are two key terms: ‘ultra-distance’ and ‘self-supported.’ Most races involve covering a set route of hu […]

EVENT
What is the Rumored Japanese Odyssey? #05
The mastermind behind the “mystery”

Table of Contents 1 Birthplace: Strasbourg2 Eco-Conscious Companions3 Into Ultra-Distance 1. Birthplace: Strasbourg Now, it’s about time to talk a bit about the organizers of TJO, the real masterminds behind the mysterious setup. France, home to the world’s greatest cycling race, the Tour de France, has embodied and preserved the tradition, prestige, and pride of cycling like no other country since the invention of the bicycle’s prototype in Paris in 1791. Many races and events held across France boast over a century of history, with the Tour at the pinnacle. This cultural foundation nurtured the format of *brevets* and iconic events like Paris-Brest-Paris, leading the way for global c […]