Kojiro Shiraishi, is a seasoned sailor who has sailed around the globe three times. Born in Kamakura, Japan, a coastal town south of Tokyo, Kojiro has always been curious about the ocean and wondered what was hiding across the oceans.
After watching the exceptional victory of compatriot Yukoh Tada on TV in the BOC Challenge in 1983 (First Asian to win a round the world yacht race), Kojiro asked Tada if he could become his apprentice.
This master - apprentice relationship didn't last long due to the sudden death of Tada who took his own life during the next BOC in 1991.
Since his tragic loss, Kojiro has dedicated all his races to his Master, Yukoh Tada, including his first singlehanded circumnavigation of the globe at 26 years of age. (Youngest person to race around the world singlehanded, non-stop, without assistance at the time)
He competed in his first race around the globe in 2002 in 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 off the circuit, he made his IMOCA comeback in 2016 by participating in the New York - Vendée Race, (7th IMOCA), qualifying for his dream event, the Vendée Globe, in the process.
On 6 November 2016, he realised his dream, participating in the Vendée Globe. The Everest of the Seas was cruel to him, because after one month of racing, he dismasted and retired from the race off South Africa. However, he had another crack at the round the world race in 2020 and became the first Asian to complete the Vendée Globe. On DMG MORI Global One, Kojiro pulled off quite a feat. After ripping his mainsail in storm Theta, the sailor spent days repairing it and managed to set off again and complete the loop in 94 days.
2022 : 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