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Japanese cartoon fan set to become fourth space tourist

A self-confessed Japanese cartoon geek said yesterday he would become the world's fourth space tourist late next year -- and he wants to gaze down at the Earth dressed as an ace pilot from a hit animation series.

The US$20 million trip will take 34-year-old Daisuke Enomoto into space. Enomoto is the former board director of the Livedoor Internet firm headed by flamboyant entrepreneur Takafumi Horie.

Enomoto, a slender man appearing in a recent photo in glasses and dyed blond hair, said on his Web site that he had already passed medical checks and had basic training in Russia last month on a program offered by US space tourism firm Space Adventures.

Full-fledged training will begin at the start of next year for the 10-day flight, in which the wealthy college dropout will spend seven nights at the International Space Station.

The investor, who describes himself as a geek follower of the popular Gundam robot animation series, said he would like to work with Japanese companies to design his own red costume like in the show for his space journey.

The costume is the trademark outfit worn by Char Aznable, an ace pilot in the Gundam series whose name is inspired by French singer Charles Aznavour.

He also plans to build a plastic model of a character in the Gundam series while in space.

Enomoto said he did not know whether next year's trip should be labelled a pastime or business.

"It may be okay to think this is a survey before I start up or invest in the space business," he said.

"But the top reason is that I simply want to go," he said, arguing that it is curiosity has brought civilization to higher levels.

"Space has future possibilities and it is not time to say this and that about the price of the trip. That is only a small issue," he said.

Enomoto said he had always wanted to be an astronaut.

"In reality, the dream can come true only in the US or Russia. Even if you are born in the US or Russia and are the elite of the elite, it is a difficult dream to realize," he said.

"I'm not an elite as I dropped out of college. Even if I cannot take a frontal route, however, I believed my desire would take me to space. So you can also go there."

Enomoto is now an independent entrepreneur after a stint at Livedoor, whose founder Horie has become a celebrity for his no-holds-barred business style and unsuccessful run for parliament.
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