My Book Ⅰ
Written by Hiroyuki Ikeda
［No.22］ From the Newspaper June 25, 2013
Totally blind Mitsuhiro Iwamoto started a voyage of 9,000 km across the Pacific Ocean in his yacht. “Though I am a blind , I want to sail the ocean .“
On June 8, a blind sailor, Mitsuhiro Iwamoto ( 46 ), a San Diego resident, will take up the challenge to “ cross the Pacific Ocean in his yacht". It's approximately 9,000 km to the San Diego Harbor from Osaka. A blind sailor crossing the Pacific would be a world first.
M. Iwamoto was born in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, in 1966. He was born with congenital Amblyopia, but lost his sight gradually from the age of 13. He lost his sight completely in the following 3 years. But though he lost the light of the eye, Iwamoto didn't lose the light of hope in adversity. As you only live once, he vowed in his mind to live life positively from now on.
After studying acupuncture in Kumamoto Prefectural School for the Blind, he studied on a scholarship in San Francisco State University and through the University of Tsukuba ( special education of science teachers training institute 筑波大学理療科教員養成特殊教育学施設 ). He became a lecturer at age 26 at the School for the blind including the acupuncture manipulative therapy department of the university ( 付属盲学校鍼灸手技療法科講師) . Then he met his 30-year old American wife, Karen, in Japan and married. They are blessed with a treasure, their daughter Rina ( 7 years old ). Now he's imigrated to San Diego, the Holy Land of sailing, and he is engaged in a special acupuncture clinic. After marriage, they had lived in Inage Kaigan, Chiba Prefecture, and one day while on a walk they found Inage Yacht Harbor. Karen, who had been sailing in high school was invited by Mitsuhiro : “ I want to go sailing together.” “ It was my first sailing out to sea with the help of a rental boat. ” Then, based at the harbor, and to know about the activity for healthy people and people with disabilities and to enjoy sailing together through "Yacht Aid Chiba" , he started sailing in earnest. Since then, he became hooked on its charm. "The best part of yachting is go far by maneuvering in the open sea. ” So far, he has participated in a number of races, including the open ocean race in Japan and the United States.
Starting from Osaka on June 8, Iwamoto is scheduled to sail via Fukushima Onahama port on the 16th, arriving at the Marriott Marquis & Marina in San Diego between the 5th and 10th of August. Why he choose Fukushima as the starting point is his own dream " I do not want to forget the earthquake." " I want to be a power for the children in Fukushima." He has been doing fund-raising activities to donate a boat to Fukushima Iwaki Kaisei high school now.
This time, he is going to sail with Jiro Shinbo who is a newscaster/ announcer with Osaka Yomiuri TV. This time they are using " Kanpei Hazama on his "Earth Marathon in 2010" yacht "Aeolus" which yacht Kanpei sailed the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and Iwamoto's aim this time is San Diego. "Throughout the voyage, I want to give courage and hope to many people. I want to prove that everything will become possible with effort. Those who are blind see a different side of things. I want to tell the value and the meaning of life.” Iwamoto challenges the big dream of “ across the Pacific ocean. ” Though being blind, “ Man will change if you go towards a target. As long as you don't apply restrictions on yourself, you will increase your possibilities. Life will change by your own perspective by receiving positive energy .”
Iwamotos’ challenge begins just now.
Los Angeles Japanese News, Wed. Apr. 24 2013
Because of flooding due to drastic changes in the weather, they were forced to give up the challenge this time unfortunately. Around 10:30 on June 21, in the Pacific Ocean, they were successfully rescued by the Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft. It was 1,200 kilometers from Fukushima. They aimed for 8,200 kilometers over a period of about 55 days, but the chagrined sailor retired on the fifth day.
Mitsuhiro Iwamoto's dream has been challenged. I wonder if he is going to continue in the future.
