A Step-by-step Approach to My Dream

One citizen runner went around Japan to encourage incurable patients in 1999. 

The runner wrote this diary, and was published as an e-book (an abridged edition).


I began to ask myself, “Have I ever lived with purpose?”


“In return for all the encouragement I’ve received from many patients, is it possible for me to jog throughout Japan to cheer on and encourage patients and their families?” This thought remained in my head for days.


I started to prepare for the biggest adventure on my life. The plan for the tour around Japan was decided. The duration would be 128 days. Starting from July 25th to November 29th, 1999. The goal for each day was planned. The entire distance from the north-eastern to the south-western part of Japan amounts to about 3,728 miles. I will run through all 47 prefectures in Japan.

The project was themed, “Cheer up Incurable Patients Encouragement Marathon Tour Around Japan.” The preparation for it took one year. The big adventure has begun one step at a time.  


An illustrated diary of a 3,728 miles journey through all 47 prefectures of Japan with the encouragement for incurable patients.