Kickin’ It Across the Subcontinent: Japanese Man Dribbles Through 2,000 km of India

Nozomu Hagihara, a 31-year-old Japanese football enthusiast and social activist, has completed a remarkable journey by dribbling a football for 2,000 kilometers across India-from Kolkata to New Delhi-in 2½ months. Hagihara started his mission on March 3, 2025, and braved harsh summer heat, pollution, and grueling distances, at times covering as much as 165 km in a day. His journey culminated at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi, where he was greeted with cheers and tears of joy.

 

Hagihara's journey was not solely personal: he conducted football workshops in villages, promoted gender equality, and raised funds for a sports exchange program for disadvantaged children in Bihar. He now wants to enter the Guinness World Records for the longest distance covered with a soccer ball, far exceeding the existing record of 337 km.

 

Source: The Japan Times, Asian Community News, The Chronicle