Blue IQ of Japan
Two unprecedented adventures - inspired by the Shikoku Pilgrimmage and ikigai - by a father who was saved by his 17-year-old son
The Mission
In July 2026, he will swim around Shōdoshima, an 80 km solo swim adventure that will take 8 days where he will swim 10 km per day. In August and September 2026, he will swim 1,188 km over 60 days around Shikoku Island guided by kayaks and a boat, occasionally joined by Japanese swimmers. Steven will swim a minimum of 3 hours per day. Both unprecedented swims will highlight the Blue IQ of Japan.
Blue IQ of Japan
Japanese people have the world’s most profound sense of Blue IQ.
Blue IQ is a multi-dimensional awareness, appreciation, knowledge, understanding, sensibilities, passion, and support of world’s oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. This profound relationship with the water should be shared and understood by the rest of the world.
Blue IQ is knowing what to do and not to do when in, around, under oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. It also includes caring and maintaining the marine environment for future generations to enjoy.
Blue Food is the marine life that we eat from oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes
Blue Economy is the commercial business that is related to oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes
Blue Journey is traveling on, in, or under oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes
Blue Exploration is future discoveries and technologies that will be developed in oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes to benefit humankind
Steven Munatones is a 63-year-old aquatic adventurer who is inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and International Ice Swimming Hall of Fame, Guinness World Record holder, author, and educator.
Why?
Steven Munatones survived a heart attack when he was saved by his teenage son 10 years ago. He was dead if not for a Perfect Storm of help from his son, paramedics, and cardiology team. This ikigai is a comeback story of resilience.
How?
Swim Shikoku is a stage swim where Munatones will swim 3-4 hours per day, every day for 88 days. He will face ocean swells, jellyfish, flying squid, tiger sharks, oceanic blacktip sharks, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and sperm whales as he navigates around small offshore islets and tidal flows.
What?
Steven Munatones will take 88 days to swim 1,188 kim around Shikoku, an Japanese island near Hiroshima, Kobe, and Osaka. He will swim a daily average of 15 km, bit by bit, around the island in a logistically complicated stage swim.
Where?
Shikoku is one of the four main islands of Japan and the 50th largest island in the world. It is is 225 km long and 150 km wide with a population of 3.8 million. Its eastern shore faces the swells of the Pacific Ocean with a majestic shoreline and its western shore faces the more developed and calmer Seto Inland Sea.
What If?
There will be very strong winds and large waves during the typhoon season in the second half of the swim where he plans to swim in the more calm Seto Inland Sea. He will be escorted by experienced local fishermen and the Shikoku lifeguard corp. Each stage swim will take into account all climatic and ocean conditions.
What Is Your Adventure?
Share Your Story, Inspire Others
We want to know about your chosen path. What are your life goals? What adventures and journeys have you embarked upon? Share your inspirational stories and be a part of the team.
Email us with details and we will post them in our blog, in the water, on dryland, or in the air.