Yozo Hirano

Yozo Hirano joined Zozo, Ltd. after graduating from Kyoto Prefectural University with a degree in casting director of a photography group. There he became the casting director and the manager of the photography team. There he is now working at Start today division of Zozo, run by Maezawa, as a film producer. He works for Maezawa’s private projects, including filming for Maezawa’s youtube channel. Thus being with Maezawa all the time he was selected for a mission to the ISS, where Yozo will be responsible for filming Maezawa during their stay.[3]

On May 13, 2021, Space Adventures announced that Yozo Hirano had successfully passed the medical examination and from June 2021, together with Yusaku Maezawa, he began preparations for a flight on the Soyuz MS-20 crewed transport spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch on December 8, 2021. The duration of the space flight will be 12 days; Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin has been appointed the Soyuz MS-20 crew commander. During the Soyuz MS-20 mission to the ISS visiting Hirano will be responsible for documenting the flight of Yusaku Maezawa.[4]

On June 15, 2021, the participants of the space flight of the 20th visiting expedition presented to the management and staff of the Center at the Yu.A. Gagarin CTC . Together with Maezawa and Hirano, Shun Ogiso, the Public Relations Manager of the Start Today corporation will also take part in the training.