And the travelers are . .

The final five Yuujou travelers are here! After more than 30,000 applications, multiple rounds of voting, video interviews and surprise visits, Yuujou has found the five individuals who will travel around the world through the power of friendship: Joey Briggs from Tampa, Florida, U.S., Paula Savelkoul from Queenstown, New Zealand, John Sebastian from Chennai, India, Panos Polemitis from Limassol, Cyprus and Jed Kenny from Durban, South Africa.

These five travelers will join Yuujou founder, Yvonne Eisenring, in a 100-day journey from Berlin, Germany to Tokyo, Japan. The group will split into two teams of three, one traveling east and one traveling west. They depart Berlin on April 11 and must make their way to Tokyo in 100 days while using their talents to creatively document and share their experiences. Along the way, teams must stay with a friend of their previous host, moving from friend to friend across the globe.

Team East

What is your superpower?

“Just being very genuine with people and getting to know them in a deeper sense than the just in passing.”

What will be your part in the travel group?

“My part would be the motivator to keep everybody going, if we have a rough day or if we run into a struggle just keeping everybody light and positive.”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“I would think a cucumber. I just think they’re very versatile. You can make them into pickles, they spice up or sweeten everything.”

What do you do when you’re not traveling?

“When I’m not traveling I probably settling down for a few months in a new town. Then I’ll find a new job, make new friends, and explore the surrounding, and after few months I pack my backs and go to my new destination.”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“I did a test online what it could be and it said garlic . . .”

What or who will you miss during the 100 days?

“I’ll miss New Zealand.”

What will be your part in the travel group?

“I would be the mechanic. And if there was any problem on the road, I can figure out a way to get out of that.”

What do you do when you’re not traveling?

“I read a lot. I write, I paint a little and I go out with my friends. We sit together and play music and wherever I go, I take photographs.”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“Maybe carrot. The cross-section looks like the pupil of the iris, so maybe carrots.”

Team West

What is your superpower?

“Talking all the time and to break the silence.”

How do you make new friends?

“I say hello. And then I’m like: I don’t know, what I’m doing… but can we be friends?”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“Cauliflower, because I was cutting it in Australia. So, I love cauliflowers.”

What is your superpower?

“Being awesome.”

What will be your part in the travel group?

“My part will be the fun guy, hopefully. And hopefully, keeping the peace and always looking at the bright side of things.”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“I would say a carrot because we’re kind of shaped the same.”

What do you do when you’re not traveling?

“I write books and theatre plays, in the mornings I usually go for a run, at night I go out. And I spend a lot of my time with my friends. Well, actually I do the same when I’m traveling.”

What is your superpower?

“Listening. I’m good at listening. And I will remember your story. I’m really bad with names and with orientation but I remember stories.”

What is your spirit vegetable?

“Ginger. Obviously.

Join Culturs as we follow the Yuujou journey. We’ll be sharing weekly updates of their experiences and insights as they document the friendships that will carry them around the world.