Taiwan and Japan jointly produced a reality show “All Aboard!” which involved a canoe adventure challenge spanning across Taiwan and Japan, pushing the physical limits of the celebrity participants. On June 9, they set off from Hualien Port towards Ishigaki Island, embarking on a 200-kilometer sea challenge that lasted 55 hours before reaching their destination. Today (June 13), a special event was held on Ishigaki Island to celebrate their successful landing, with dignitaries from both Taiwan and Japan present to show their support.
The production team and seven celebrities including Hu Yuwei, Guo Hongzhi, Cai Changxian, KID, Reymar Sidan, Zhong Yao, and Lei Aimei arrived on Ishigaki Island to a warm welcome from a local citizen band gathered at the port. The unexpected appearances of the celebrities’ families and fans added to the emotional atmosphere. The team leader, Roland, also made an appearance to show his support.
The 200-kilometer sea challenge tested the participants’ physical strength, technical skills, endurance, and mental fortitude, setting a new record for reality shows in Taiwan. On the 13th, a press conference was held to celebrate the team’s successful landing on Ishigaki Island, with guests including Chairman Su Jiaquan of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and Vice Governor Ikeda Takeshu of Okinawa Prefecture showing their support.
Although they arrived faster than planned, celebrity participant Guo Hongzhi expressed the immense pressure of the challenge, revealing he lost three kilograms during the journey. He shared that the most challenging aspect for him was the rotating schedule for resting and sleeping.
Seasickness has always been a major obstacle for Cai Changxian, who had already emptied his stomach on the second day of the journey. Despite not encountering dolphins this time, they unexpectedly encountered bull sharks. When they were warned about the sharks, some didn’t believe it was serious and thought it was a joke. Cai Changxian even jumped into the sea and had a scare figuring out how to get back on the boat.
KID jokingly mentioned his biggest motivation to keep going was his wife and child, stating, “I must safely reach the shore.” Zhong Yao found sun exposure the most challenging, as she suffered from dehydration and heatstroke during the journey.
During the 55-hour journey, due to limited water supply on the boat, most of the female participants had to use wet wipes to clean themselves. Hu Yuwei humorously commented on the unpleasant smell onboard the boat. Zhong Yao mentioned significant hair loss after days of sun exposure and stress.
Japanese support team leader Roland expressed his delight in collaborating with all the celebrities this time. When asked about the most memorable female participant, he pointed out Reymar Sidan, noting her initial strong impression softened after he found her to be a delicate and thoughtful person.
Roland shared, “Observing the unwavering determination of all the celebrities to achieve their goals during this trip made me realize that many young people in Japan only care about appearances and lack the drive to strive for success. I hope this program can inspire these young people to pursue their goals with determination.”