In 1963, five male students from Waseda University walked about 6,000 km from San Francisco to New York in 241 days, making them the first Japanese to cross the North American continent on foot.
The students stayed at the homes of American families or camped out, meeting a wide range of people with different backgrounds as well as public officials, including governors and mayors.
The experience led to the foundation of what is now known as the Japan Walking Association.
"I really thought about leaving my mark on America by doing something extraordinary at a time when it was difficult for Japanese to go abroad," recalled Noboru Tajima, 60, leader of the original five-member team who now runs a real estate company in Kanagawa Prefecture.