Pacific Crossing Day

What Is Pacific Crossing Day?

August 12th is "Pacific Crossing Day" in Japan, commemorating the day in 1962 when ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie became the first Japanese person to complete a solo, non-stop crossing of the Pacific Ocean aboard his small yacht, the "Mermaid."

A 94-Day Solo Voyage

Horie set sail alone from the shores of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on May 12th of that year.

• His yacht: the "Mermaid," a single-masted sloop measuring 5.83 meters, designed by yacht designer Akira Yokoyama
• The voyage's length: 94 days at sea, crossing the Pacific with no resupply or port calls whatsoever
• His arrival: on August 12th, he passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, completing his historic voyage

An Unexpected Welcome for a Passport-Less Voyage

At the time, Horie had left Japan without a passport, technically making his voyage an illegal departure under the law. Even so, San Francisco Mayor George Christopher honored his remarkable feat -- remarking that "Columbus didn't have a passport either" -- and welcomed Horie as an honorary citizen. Opinion in Japan, which had at first criticized the voyage as reckless, is said to have turned to praise after this news.

His account of the voyage, "Kodoku: Sailing Alone Across the Pacific" (Taiheiyō Hitoribocchi), became a bestseller and was made into a 1963 film starring Ishihara Yūjirō. Horie kept sailing: in 2022, at the age of 83, he completed a solo non-stop Pacific crossing, setting a record as the oldest person to do so.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about Kenichi Horie's later voyages and achievements
• Learn about the characteristics of the yacht "Mermaid"
• Reflect on just how difficult a solo Pacific crossing would be
• Read a book or watch a documentary about the sea and sailing

One Man, a Small Yacht, and the Vast Open Ocean

In an era of limited communication, Horie's 94-day solo confrontation with the vast Pacific Ocean gave courage to countless people. Let August 12th be a day to reflect on the history of an adventure achieved by one young man.