Kojiro Shiraishi, is a sailor who has sailed around the globe three times. Born in Kamakura, Japan, a costal town south of Tokyo, Shiraishi has always admired the ocean and wondered what was hiding across the oceans.
Few years after witnessing the exceptional victory of the skipper Yukoh Tada during the BOC Ocean Race in 1983 (First Asian to win a round the world sailing race), Shiraishi has asked Tada to become his apprentice.
A master - apprentice relationship that didn't last long due to the sudden death of Tada who commited suicide in 1991.
Since his tragic loss, he dedicates all his races to his Master, Yukoh Tada.
His first round the world sailing was at the age of 26. (Youngest person around the world single handed, non-stop, without assistance at the time)
He raced his first around the globe race in 2002 during the Around Alone where he finished 4th (Class 40), then in the Velux 5 Oceans in 2006 where he finished 2nd (IMOCA).
After more than 10 years, he comes back on the IMOCA circuit in 2016 by participating in the New York - Vendee Race, (7th IMOCA), at the same time qualifying for his dream event, the Vendee Globe.
His dream comes true after participating in the Vendee Globe, however the Everest of the seas has been cruel to him. An early dismast after a month of racing near the coast of South Africa obliges him to retire the race.
On November 6, 2016, he realized his dream, his participation in the Vendée Globe. The Everest of the seas that was cruel for him, because after a month of racing, he dismasted and abandoned off South Africa.
He will start again on the round the world race in 2020 and becomes the first Asian to have finished the Vendée Globe. On DMG MORI Global One, Kojiro achieved a feat. After tearing his mainsail in the Theta storm, the sailor spent days repairing it and managed to set off again and complete the loop in 94 days.
In 2022, the skipper started the Route du Rhum but was forced to retire just a few minutes after the start due to a collision with one of his competitors. His goal now is to gain as many miles as possible in 2023 to ensure his participation in the Vendée Globe in 2024.
2022 :Route du Rhum - withdrawal
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 14th
2020-21 : Vendée Globe - 16th (94d 21h 32m 56s)
2020 : Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 10th
2016 : Vendée Globe - ABD
Transat NY - Vendée - 7th
2015 : Captain of the crew for the Hatsushima Double Hand Race in Sagami Bay
Ooshima Challenge, Annual crossing with 4 orphaned children from Zushi to Izu Ooshima
2014 : Crew captain for the filming of a documentary off the CroaGe
Ooshima Challenge, Annual crossing with 4 orphaned children from Zushi to Izu Ooshima
2008 : World record on the Pacific crossing with Lionel Lemonchois on the Maxi Catamaran 110d "Gitana 13" San Fransisco in Yokohama
2006-07 : VELUX 5OCEANS class I 2nd, on OPEN 60d "SPIRIT OF YUKOH"
2002- 03 : Around Alone in class II 4th, on OPEN 40d "SPIRIT OF YUKOH"
1998 : World record on the Pacific crossing with Bruno Peyron on the Catamaran 80d "Explorer" Yokohama in San Fransisco
1993-94 : Solitary round the world voyage by sail, non-stop, without assistance (176 days) (46,115km), on OPEN 50d "SPIRIT OF YUKOH", Record of the youngest sailor who completed this feat at the time at 26 years old
1991 : Solitary crossing from Sydney (Australia) to Izu Matsuzaki (Japan) on OPEN 50d "KODEN OKERA 8th", after the death of the owner Yukoh Tada
1989 : Crew member of the crossing from New Zealand to Hakata (Japan) on a 50d monohull, "OKERA7th ", for the Hakata Expo Race
1988 : Crew member of the crossing from Tomakomai (Japan) to Nakhodka (USSR) on a 50d monohull, "OKERA 7th", for the Nakhodka Race