Japanese billionaire seeks partner for Moon trip

Media caption'Why I've bought a ticket to fly to the Moon'
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is looking for a female "life partner" to accompany him on Space X's maiden tourist voyage to the Moon.The fashion mogul, 44, is set to be the first civilian passenger to fly around the moon on the Starship rocket.Planned for 2023, the mission will be the first lunar journey by humans since 1972.In an online appeal, Mr Maezawa says he wants to share the experience with a "special" woman.The entrepreneur, who recently split up from actress girlfriend Ayame Goriki, 27, has asked women to apply for a "planned match-making event" on his website. "As feelings of loneliness and emptiness slowly begin to surge upon me, there's one thing that I think about: Continuing to love one woman," Mr Maezawa wrote on the website."I want to find a 'life partner'," Mr Maezawa added. "With that future partner of mine, I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space."

The website features a list of conditions and a schedule for the three-month long application process.Written in a dating profile-style, the conditions say applicants must be single, over the age of 20, always positive and have an interest in going to space. The deadline for applications is 17 January and a final decision on Mr Maezawa's partner will be made at the end of March.

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Getty Images

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Mr Maezawa said he would invite up to eight artists to join him in space

An eccentric who garnered fame as a drummer in a hardcore punk band, Mr Maezawa has form for attention-grabbing stunts.Earlier this month, Mr Maezawa promised to share 100m yen ($925,000; £725,000) between 100 randomly selected people who shared one of his tweets."To participate, all you have to do is follow me and RT this tweet," he said.Founder of Japanese online clothing retailer Zozo Inc, Mr Maezawa made his fortune in the fashion world. He is believed to have a personal wealth of close to $3bn, a lot of which he spends on art.

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SpaceX

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Artwork: The BFR spaceship will be able to carry humans on a trip around the Moon

He became more widely known abroad late last year after he was named as the first private passenger due to be flown around the Moon by SpaceX, the company owned by another famous billionaire, Elon Musk.The price Mr Maezawa agreed to pay for his ticket to space has not been disclosed, but according to Mr Musk it was "a lot of money".Mr Maezawa has said he plans to take a group of artists with him on the flight.
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