I can't stop grinning at 'Chikyu no Arukikata: Suiyo Dodesho Shikoku'. A must-read guidebook for fans.

I first got hooked on 'Suiyo Dodesho' when I was 20 years old, in my third year of university. That was 15 years ago. By then, the regular broadcast had already ended, and it was a time when reruns were being aired all over the country.

The first project I watched was exquisite. It was the pilgrimage to the 88 temples in Shikoku, a project that hit the bullseye for me.

I was instantly captivated, and ever since then, I have continued to be influenced by the Dodesho team.

The popularity of 'Suiyo Dodesho' is now nationwide, and there is an incredible number of fans in every corner of the country.

Why is 'Suiyo Dodesho' loved by so many people?

There are many different reasons for each person, but for me, I think it's because 'I feel somehow relieved when I watch it'.

Of course, the show itself is funny enough to make you burst into laughter. But it's not just simply funny; it has a mysterious charm that makes you want to watch it over and over again.

Usually, I don't think people watch the same comedy show dozens of times. Once you know the punchline, the fun of the show tends to fade.

However, 'Suiyo Dodesho' is different. Even if you know the punchline, it doesn't bother you at all. No, rather, you reach a mysterious state where you can watch it with peace of mind. It's strange. It's hard to explain.

This is why it's so difficult to convey the appeal of 'Suiyo Dodesho'. Even we, the viewers, don't quite understand it. But we just can't stop watching.

Well, in any case, when I'm tired from work or feeling down, watching 'Suiyo Dodesho' somehow heals me and makes me feel at ease.

This is a topic that often comes up when I interact with other Dodesho fans.

I'm sure many Dodesho fans would agree with this feeling of being 'relieved'.

And for me, the 'Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage' is a precious project that allowed me to encounter Dodesho, and it is a project I have a lot of attachment to.

The project itself is extremely simple. Just visit all 88 temples on the pilgrimage in Shikoku, that's all. But this simple journey is somehow profound...!

While holding up the grand cause of 'praying for the success of students taking entrance exams,' Oizumi-san continues to grumble throughout this grueling journey. And then, the scenery of the grateful temples appears unexpectedly. People often say, 'Life is a journey,' and I find myself feeling an indescribable flavor in this ridiculous yet somehow grateful and strange trip.

This book, 'Chikyu no Arukikata: Suiyo Dodesho Shikoku', is structured in a wonderful way that allows you to re-experience their journey. It is packed with information, covering in detail the routes they took and what happened there.

And above all, there are plenty of photos, and I can't stop grinning while reading this book. It makes me feel like I'm looking back on fun memories, thinking, 'Ah, that happened, didn't it?' This is a must-read for fans. (*In the 'Suiyo Dodesho' community, there is a culture of calling fans 'hanshi' (feudal retainers).)

And on a personal note, it was because of this show that I started the pilgrimage myself. I completed the pilgrimage twice during my student days. Looking back now, it's a bit embarrassing, but the second time, I even filmed it with a camera and made my own Dodesho-style DVD.

Just like the Dodesho team, I also traveled by rental car, and of course, I wore this outfit while visiting the pilgrimage sites.

The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage takes about a week even when traveling by car.

Driving along the narrow, winding mountain roads was quite a tough journey even by car, but I remember being wrapped in a strange sense of exhilaration throughout the trip.

The very fact that I was on a pilgrimage felt somehow sacred.

Having actually done it, I felt that there is a mysterious charm to a pilgrimage.

If I have the chance, I truly want to go again from the bottom of my heart. If possible, I would like to try another round, this time in reverse (counter-clockwise).

For me, this Dodesho pilgrimage trip seems to have become the origin of my own travels.

In 2022, I visited churches in the mountains of Georgia and Armenia, and the itinerary and scenery at that time were exactly like the pilgrimage.

These schedules were also quite hard, and while visiting, I couldn't help but laugh at myself, thinking, 'Why am I doing this?'

I think all Dodesho fans will understand this feeling.

The tougher the journey, and the more accidents there are, the more interesting it is.

Even though it's something you decided yourself, the moment you start to feel ridiculous and think, 'Why am I doing this?' can be said to be a moment of bliss in a sense. I think this is exactly where the secret to enjoying travel lies. That is also something 'Suiyo Dodesho' taught me.

For this reason, I continue to be strongly influenced by 'Suiyo Dodesho' even now. I have nothing but gratitude for Dodesho, which taught me the real thrill of travel: turning failures and accidents into laughter.

And finally, as an aside, at my family's temple, Kinshokuji in Hakodate, we have the married couple of Daruma dolls associated with 'Suiyo Dodesho'.

The one on the left is a Daruma from Daruma-ji Temple in Takasaki.

And the one on the right is a Hime-Daruma from Goto Hime-Daruma Workshop in Taketa City, Oita Prefecture.

They are the two that I went to the locations to pick up myself.

The two of them, who warmly welcome everyone who comes to visit the temple, have become like symbols of our temple.

It has a great reputation, with people saying, 'It's just so heartwarming to watch!' I agree. This sense of happiness is something you don't come across very often.

The Daruma couple who bring a peaceful atmosphere to the temple.

They will surely continue to watch over the temple for a long time to come.

That concludes 'I can't stop grinning at "Earth Walker: How Do You Like Wednesday? Shikoku". A must-see guidebook for fans.'

※During my 2019 trip around the world, I coincidentally ended up visiting places associated with 'How Do You Like Wednesday?'. I have summarized my experiences from that time in the article below, so please take a look at this article as well.

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