Shiraishi has one of the strongest and longest connections with the VELUX 5 OCEANS of all the skippers in this solo circumnavigation.

Having graduated with qualifications in commercial fishing, 20 year-old 'Koji' became apprentice to Japan's legendary singlehanded sailor, the Tokyo taxi driver, Yukoh Tada, class winner of the first BOC Challenge in 1982. Mesmerised by Tada's character and unique approach to solo sailing, Koji signed on as shore crew for his mentor during the 1990 race. After Tada's death, Koji experienced singlehanding for the first time, delivering his sailing tutor's 50ft yacht, Okera VII, from Australia to Japan.

Born and raised in Kamakura, within sight and sound of the sea, Koji knew he was destined for a life of involvement with the ocean: a certainty that led to his qualification as a ship's engineer. In 1994, however, Koji's potential career path took a dramatic change in direction: having refitted the late Yukoh Tada's yacht, this 26 year-old became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed, non-stop, aboard the renamed Spirit of Yukoh in a time of 176 days. With this immense challenge behind him, Shiraishi embarked upon entering and organising tough and demanding adventure races on land and sea: in 1995 he travelled to Canada and the US competing in the Eco-Challenge Race and finished 11th in South Africa's extreme and physically punishing 1997 Raid Gauloises. The following year, Koji crewed for the French offshore racing legend, Bruno Peyron, setting a new Yokohama-San Francisco record on board the maxicatamaran, Explorer, before representing Japan during the 2000 Camel Trophy in Tonga and Samoa.

Entered for the 2002-2003 Around Alone race, Koji overcame dramatic, structural problems on board his new Open 40, Spirit of Yukoh, sustained during the pre-race delivery from Japan to Rhode Island, America, finishing the circumnavigation 4th overall in Class 2. For the VELUX 5 OCEANS, he purchased Dominique Wavre's fast and strong Open 60, Temenos, adapting and refining the Swiss solo skipper's immaculately prepared yacht. Aware that solo sailing has a strong European foundation, Koji appointed a highly experienced Anglo-French team as shore crew for the race and relied upon their accumulated knowledge and his own sailing skill and prodigious endurance during the VELUX 5 OCEANS. His combination of acute mental focus through on board meditation, his vast technical expertise coupled with a powerful yacht and well organised racing campaign made the latest Spirit of Yukoh a race front-runner from the start.

A master swordsman who believes in discipline and preparation, Koji's campaign looked in excellent shape before the start in Bilbao, and remained so around the world. After setting off, Shiraishi was one of only two skippers to make it through the heinous Bay of Biscay storm, firmly establishing him in second place, a position he was to retain throughout the race. The first leg saw Koji stick close to the high speed Stamm, finishing only five days behind the Swiss speedster.

Leg two saw Stamm and Shiraishi again take up the lead at the head of the pack. However, a large weather system saw Stamm dive far south and ride around a large area of windless conditions. Unfortunately, Koji got caught up in this system, ultimately leaving him a good distance behind Stamm when he arrived into Norfolk.

Although unable to make a dent in Stamm's lead, the two skippers, by now firm friends with great respect for each other, arrived in Bilbao within an hour of each other. They got to celebrate together on the docks in Bilbao surrounded by hundreds of supporters and fans. It was an amazing achievement by Shiraishi, who brought skill and a unique character to the race, as well as interest across Asia.