Yuuichi Iwata called into Dimboola this evening, during his cross country walk to raise funds for Tsunami victims in Tohoku.

Japanese national, Yuuichi (Shota) Iwata, quit his job as a store manager to take on the challenge of walking across Australia to raise funds for tsunami victims and educational support for children.

The 26-year-old first arrived in Brisbane, where friends living there helped him get set up with a stylised rickshaw for carrying his clothes and camping equipment for the journey ahead. His rickshaw was built by an engineering friend, who specially made it able to be collapsed and taken onto a plane as luggage.


Yuuichi's cross country walk began September last year in Perth.

Inspired by the Star Wars' Stormtrooper costume worn by Jacob French during his cross-country walk in 2012, Yuuichi chose to wear traditional Japanese clothing, including thongs on his walk to help raise awareness.

Arriving at Dimboola this evening, he will be staying overnight at the caravan park and the local Lions Club have offered to treat him to dinner. Caravan park manager and Dimboola Football Club member Russell Barber, invited Yuuichi to call in at the training rooms later in the evening for an ice bath and massage by the club's trainer, to which the offer was duly accepted.

Yuuichi said that his journey will cover 4,200 kilometres. He said "I want to end my walk at the Sydney Opera House."

"I have friends in Sydney who are going to work out the best roads to take when I arrive - it is very busy there, many cars."

The Tohoku earthquake was a magnitude 9.0 (Mw), which was the most powerful known earthquake ever to have hit Japan since modern record-keeping began in 1900.


The tsunami waves rose higher than 20 meters and caused massive devastation to towns and villages along the Pacific Ocean coast of the Tohoku and Kanto region.

To donate or sponsor Yuuichi's walk, visit his website at www.beyondwalk.com where you can also find out more of his story.