@nishi2 is a Nishi2 member. His real name is Naoki Shimizu. He’s active as a GPS runner, and this time he has run 3,700 km across the Japanese archipelago.
Here’s the route↓
As the culmination of 10 years of experience built up as a GPS runner, he ran and drew a ground picture in the shape of a runner as a “Tsunagare JAPAN! Project”, all in one continuous line~
“GPS runner” Naoki Shimizu is from Nishinomiya!🏃
On his very first GPS run, he drew “Nishinomiya LOVE” and confessed his love to his hometown.
What’s more, the place where he came up with the idea that the characters for Nishinomiya could be drawn on a map was Nishinomiya Shrine. And the inspiration behind his own name, “Naoki,” was actually Nishinomiya Shrine too.
Through a chance connection, he joined Nishi2 as a writer under the name Sensei. “Huh? Why Sensei?” Because he used to be a teacher at Fukatsu Elementary School~
Now, let’s start the report on this challenge.
Spring. April 5🌸
The 3,700 km challenge started at Nishinomiya Shrine’s Akamon Gate! And the outfit he’s wearing is~~??
It’s the Fukuotoko of Ebessan~~~!
Actually, Sensei@nishi2 is the amazingly “lucky” guy who has missed the lottery to run in the Fukuotoko selection for nine years in a row.
The person who let Sensei wear the Fukuotoko outfit was Osako-san, a city council member and a truly lucky man who has been chosen as Fukuotoko twice in the past~.
To make sure he delivers good fortune, he first pays a visit to Ebessan~
Then he tries running together with everyone supporting him, plus Shachomi~~
Osako-san and Sensei part ways here. He’ll make sure to pass along the good fortune!
Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho♪ Gotta tell the Miyakko people that this summer is going to be insanely hot!
Since Sensei’s dream is “to create a running culture that isn’t about competing,” he takes breaks along the way and properly enjoys the cherry blossoms along Shukugawa too~. That’s why he can keep running~
When running together, everyone matches the pace of the slowest person. So even if you’re not confident about running, you can relax.
Waiting at traffic lights is an oasis~~~
Since Shachomi is in charge of Nishinomiya, she said goodbye to Sensei in Ashiya~.
He keeps running west: Hyogo → Okayama → Hiroshima → Yamaguchi →.
He stayed three nights at Kozenji Temple in Shimane Prefecture. The head priest is a clinical psychologist and Buddhist YouTuber with 16,000 subscribers. He connected with locals and even drew the local specialty, a giant salamander, with a GPS run!🦎Sensei’s having some fun encounters~
In Tottori, he pulled a muscle and still did a 100 km walk🦵 In serious pain, he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a muscle strain. But somehow, by sheer grit, after walking 100 km over two days, it healed✨
#WalkingIsBasicallyRest
This is way too much of an adventure!
In 2019, he supported people through the Tohoku 200 km GPS Traverse Project. He also ran 1,000 km all the way around Taiwan as a thank-you to Taiwan for helping after the earthquake. This time, he also ran through the Noto Peninsula.
He found a fish over 1 meter long on the coast🐟 and gave the huge fish to local junior high school students. Then they apparently stuck it in the basket of a mamachari bike and wobbled their way home~ The stories are ridiculous lol
About three and a half months after starting.
Summer. July 26🫠
