Kenichi Horie

Quick Facts: Who was Kenichi Horie?

Subject:

Kenichi Horie

Known for:

Japanese solo yachtsman known for pioneering non-stop, environmentally conscious oceanic crossings.

Born:

1938-09-08

Century / Era:

1938s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kenichi Horie (堀江 謙一, Horie Ken'ichi; born September 8, 1938 in Osaka) is a Japanese solo yachtsman. In 1962 he became the first person to sail solo and non-stop across the Pacific Ocean. He has made other significant solo voyages, usually involving boats exhibiting some sort of environmentally friendly theme, including his 2008 voyage across the Western Pacific Ocean in a wave-powered boat, the Suntory Mermaid II. In 2022, he became the oldest man to sail solo non-stop across the Pacific. He began his journey in San Francisco, USA on March 27, arriving in Japan on June 4.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Horie wrote a book about his voyage, titled Alone on the Pacific (Kodoku), which was made into a movie Alone Across the Pacific (also titled My Enemy, The Sea) in 1963 by Kon Ichikawa. The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe award. The Mermaid is currently on display in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Maritime Museum. He also translated the book Ice Bird: The first single-handed voyage to Antarctica by Australian adventurer David Lewis into Japanese. Horie has made numerous solo voyages.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1962, at the age of 23, Kenichi Horie sailed alone across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco aboard a 19-foot (5.8 m) plywood sailboat called the Mermaid. He departed Nishinomiya, Japan, on May 12, 1962, and arrived in San Francisco, California, U.S., on August 11. Despite Horie's best effort to legally depart from Japan, and because of the lack of precedent for international travel on a small sailboat, he was not able to obtain a passport or an adequate amount of foreign currency. He arrived with no passport or money and was initially arrested. After learning of his voyage, San Francisco Mayor George Christopher arranged for him to be freed.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1938 (1938-09-08): Birth of Kenichi Horie — Japanese solo yachtsman known for pioneering non-stop, environmentally conscious oceanic crossings.
2. 1962: 1962 Milestone — In 1962 he became the first person to sail solo and non-stop across the Pacific Ocean.
3. 1963: 1963 Milestone — Horie wrote a book about his voyage, titled Alone on the Pacific (Kodoku), which was made into a movie Alone Across the Pacific (also titled My Enemy, The Sea) in 1963 by Kon Ichikawa.
4. 2008: 2008 Milestone — He has made other significant solo voyages, usually involving boats exhibiting some sort of environmentally friendly theme, including his 2008 voyage across the Western Pacific Ocean in a wave-powered boat, the Suntory Mermaid II.
5. 2022: 2022 Milestone — In 2022, he became the oldest man to sail solo non-stop across the Pacific.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kenichi Horie

True or False: “Kenichi Horie was the first person to sail solo non-stop across the Pacific Ocean in 1962.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he achieved this feat, he was not the absolute first; however, his voyage established a significant precedent for modern record attempts.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Somaliland politician, served as President from 2010 to 2017.
• Ahn Chang Ho — Contemporary (Died in 1938) (1938): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Aage Bohr — Shared historical date (09-08 · Died) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Ahn Jae-hwan — Shared historical date (09-08 · Died) (2008): South Korean actor known for roles in films like Beautiful Temptation and Show Show Show.
• Alan Dershowitz — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Prominent American lawyer and professor known for constitutional and criminal law advocacy.
• Albert Fert — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• A. K. Fazlul Huq — Historical peer (Died in 1962) (1962): Pakistani statesman and jurist, known as Sher-e-Bangla, a founding father of Pakistan.
• Abdullah II of Jordan — Historical peer (Born in 1962) (1962): King of Jordan, a Hashemite monarch who assumed the throne in 1999.
• Aimé Césaire — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Afro-Martinican poet, politician, and founder of the Négritude movement.
• 1938 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1938
• September 8 (09-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 8

Frequently Asked Questions about Kenichi Horie