Sanma Episode 48 Departs from Japan, Space Adventure

Years ago, I stumbled upon a 2002 issue of BRUTUS in Jimbocho. Titled "2020, Today is a Moon Trip!", it capitalized on the excitement surrounding Japanese astronauts' space journeys and envisioned a "Nine-Day Space Tour" departing from Narita Airport 20 years later. The magazine projected a lunar journey, meticulously analyzing the future of space development while also lacing it with a touch of wry humor. This was incredibly moving for me, a recent founder of Sanma. I crouched on the sidewalk, clutching the slightly tarnished old copy, tears welling up in my eyes. "This kind of project, one that challenges readers' imaginations, one that's both realistic and fantastical, is the right title for a magazine!" Thus, a "Special Edition on the Universe" became a dream theme for the editorial team, something they'd try every few years. Unknowns, inadequate capabilities, insufficient budgets, and simply the timing were all reasons that kept it from happening. If you think about it, isn't this like the journey of human exploration of the universe? Leapfrog development is always difficult, but astronauts striving to reach the moon, scientists exploring the mysteries of the stars, and thinkers seeking to understand the origins of life in the Milky Way—even before technological advancements—continued to shine like stars, never ceasing to shine. You don't know its beginning, nor its end; all you know is this beam of light that travels through time, a fascinating force. I believe this is one of the reasons why humanity is so fascinated by the universe. In 2018, renowned entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa became the first Japanese person to self-funded a trip to the space station. He also initiated a project to bring together artists to visit the moon, sparking renewed interest in producing a special feature. With the announcement that the 2023 launch was suspended due to technological considerations surrounding rocket development, we're forced to pause and ponder: "When will we finally be able to explore the uncharted universe?" Fast forward to now. With his work "Earth - On the Movement of the Earth -," manga artist Yufeng became the youngest manga artist ever to receive the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award. This work once again sparked our editorial team's cosmic dreams, resonating with our instinctive pursuit of truth and confronting people's desire to participate in the journey of truth-seeking. Much like the story depicted in manga, which repeatedly fails to capture the collective will of humanity despite the challenges of truth and technology, we mustered the courage to take the first step and sent our first interview request to JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). After nearly a decade of countless launch failures, the editorial team finally landed on our dream for the "Japan Launch, Space Exploration 2025" special. This issue addresses the 2002 vision for space exploration, visiting the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center in Ibaraki Prefecture to review Japan's space development progress. We also connect with Taiwan's TASA National Space Center to analyze how Taiwan-Japan aerospace cooperation contributes to human survival. Finally, we feature an exclusive interview with Yu Feng, delving into his "way of viewing the world." As he puts it, "Science is the evolution of time, and philosophy is the accumulated wisdom of humanity. We should maintain a gentle heart when exploring the universe." "We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard." In his famous "We Choose to Go to the Moon" speech in 1962, US President Kennedy declared his commitment to space exploration. On the 70th anniversary of Japan's first rocket launch, we have arrived at the right moment. Although we haven't yet realized our 2020 "Nine-Day Space Tour," isn't that what the universe is like? Difficult and not easily conquered by humanity, yet darkness and light coexist eternally.