Japanese TV host makes a splash

By Joanna Lewis, joanna@cfp.ky

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Japanese TV host Daisuke Miyagawa made a splash at the Pirates Week festival cardboard boat race recently.

Japanese TV station Nippon Television Network captured the host on film for the station’s hit variety show Sekai No Hate Made ItteQ. The variety show is aired nationwide in Japan, with some 14 million viewers.

Daisuke Miyagawa, one of Japan’s most up and coming comedians/actors and dubbed as the Jim Carrey of Japan by the network, tours the world participating in some of the most exciting and unusual festivals for the show. At each festival, Daisuke Miyagawa is challenged to enter one of the festival’s competitions. Among the more unusual festivals which the show has featured includes a cheese rolling festival in England and a cow chasing festival in Spain. The Pirates Week cardboard boat race was the first festival to be featured from the Caribbean.

Daisuke Miyagawa’s boat design was an elaborate traditional–style ship, which was built with the help of his teammates for the day, Cayman residents, Alex, Damo and Neil. It dramatically capsized within minutes of entering the water and eventually sank mid–way through the race. For their efforts, the crew garnered the prize for the Most Spectacular Sinker and a large applause from the spectators.

“We never really had a chance to paddle, but instead just exercised our abs,” Daisuke Miyagawa joked.

“Grand Cayman was a great place to be where the warmest hospitality was offered. The Pirates Week festival was certainly enjoyable and exciting and I would love to join the festival again next year,” he added.

In addition to filming the cardboard boat race, the film crew – who were in Grand Cayman for a week – also toured the island, capturing panoramic beauty shots for the one–hour programme.

More than 10 boats entered this year’s race. Now in its second year, the cardboard boat race has become a popular favourite with festival goers.

Daisuke Miyagawa’s Pirates Week cardboard boat race challenge is scheduled to air in Japan Sunday, 11 January, 2009.