Akiyama Toyohiro was the first Japanese astronaut in space. His first words on return? “I want a smoke.”

3 comments

1. You can take the salaryman off of Earth, but…

2. Since he took a ride on a Russian spaceship, he should be called a cosmonaut, rather than an astronaut.

3. What a story, but somehow I doubt the Japanese woman developed an appendicitis. Most likely asked to step aside, being Japanese and loyal to the company, did and never spoke of it again.