Boothbay Harbor's Fishermen's Festival is no stranger to strangers.

Every year, people from different communities, different states and different countries attend the weekend-long event.

The 2013 Fishermen's Festival was no different, albeit with a unique visitor.

Daisuke Miyagawa participated in several of the events during the 40th annual Fishermen's Festival, where the Japanese entertainer tested his might against local competitors.

Miyagawa is the host of Nippon TV's “Sekai no hate made Itte Q,” or “Quest at the End of the World.”

Tomoko Ishibashi worked with Miyagawa during his time in Boothbay Harbor. She referred to Miyagawa as Japan's Jim Carrey, and that Miyagawa was one of the more popular hosts of Itte Q.

The show has run on Nippon TV for seven years. Nippon TV is Japan's leading TV network, and Itte Q is the most watched primetime show in the country, Ishibashi said.

The show's main premise is to send celebrities to all ends of the earth to participate in different events. Miyagawa has been to Mexico, England, Thailand, Australia and now Boothbay Harbor, among other locales. All told, the comedian has competed in 70 different events for the show.

The decision to visit Boothbay came after producers discovered an online video clip of the crate running event.

“We have many researchers constantly looking for activities in the world for Daisuke and other celebrities possibly can go to,” Ishibashi said. “One researcher found the video of Lobster Crate Running and we found (out) about Fishermen's Festival.”

From there, Miyagawa was entered in a number of events, including bait shoveling and the lobster eating contest. Miyagawa was perhaps the most vocal competitor in both events; in both he yelled out after completing the events, usually with a Nippon TV camera pointed in his face.

He also competed in the event that brought him to Midcoast in the first place. He sprinted out across the crates and although he was tripped-up by the fourth crate, he celebrated with gusto and with the support crew on the dock.

East Boothbay lobsterman Rusty Court helped Miyagawa prepare for his time in Boothbay Harbor. Court was also Miyagawa's teammate in bait shoveling competition.

“He certainly seems like a wild and crazy guy,” Court said. “It was fun to work with the group.”

Court also instructed Miyagawa on several age-old traditions of Maine.

“I showed him how to take apart a lobster, and he wanted to do a speed run,” Court said. “He didn't like the smell of that lobster bait though. And I don't think he cared for hitting the water (during crate running).

“But, he was a good sport and very animated; he was a fun person to be around.”

Although Miyagawa wasn't able to win an event, Ishibashi said the star and crew appreciated their time in the harbor.

“We all appreciate (the) big help from the people in Boothbay Harbor that made this episode happen,” she said.

The Boothbay-themed Itte Q will air May 12 on Nippon TV.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.

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