Japanese Billionaire Blasts Off To International Space Station

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has fulfilled his childhood dream today as he travelled to space as one of two passengers on board a Russian rocket headed for the International Space Station (ISS). 

Yusaku Maezawa, the founder of Japanese online fashion retailer Zozo, and his production assistant, Yozo Hirono, have become the first space tourists to travel to the ISS for more than a decade. 

Prior to the flight, Maezawa told reporters, “I feel like an elementary school student about to go on an outing. I didn’t think I would be able to go to space. I used to like the starry sky and heavenly bodies. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity and to finally fulfil my dream.”

However, Maezawa is not yet finished with space. He has signed up for a more ambitious journey in 2023, travelling around the moon on board Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket. 

As CEO of Zozo, Maezawa has amassed an impressive personal net worth of almost $2 billion.