This year sees much occurrence of climbersf accidents in Japanese mountains including Mt. Fuji. According to the National Police Agency, incident occurrence in Mt. Fuji numbered over 80 last year, but 2025 will exceed it. As Mt. Fuji and most high mountains in Japan have been worshiped as sacred existence from ancient times, it is lamentable to see too many hikers and climbers targeting the peak in leisured tourism.
As of Mt. Fuji, the current entrance fee is 4,000 Japanese yen, but rescue
of damaged climbers using public agency is basically free of charge. Therefore, some malicious climbers are said
to use helicopter and rescuers like a free taxi service. Of course, rescue expense of the public organization
is covered by tax payers.
Troublemaking climbers often lack firm clothes and climbing gear. Some of which wore T-shirts, shorts and
sandals. Because of that, rescue squad had to arrange medical treatment and hospitalization
frequently.
In principle, bad mannered climbers should not be entitled to obtain any hospitality of covered rescue. To avoid onsite confusion of rescue team and their possibly owing secondary accident, related authority and municipality should check basic clothes and instrument of climbers at entrance spot of high mountains. In addition, mountain insurance should be imposed for climbers in popular mountains like Mt. Fuji. This is not unusual. In Switzerland, any organized mountain rescue is charged forcibly.
Uncontrolled
rush of people does not only appear in Japanese high mountains but also in cultural
and historical sites. Such overtourism trend
spreads around the world rampantly. That
is not due to a sense of globalism but just a shower of selfish arrogance. If something sacred entity inherently hides in a human society, it will not permit such a way to be continual for long term. (Takashi Higashi, President, TCS)
* * *
If you have questions and comments on the above, please click the below
envelope.
