Jody Serrano
Editor in chiefEditor in Chief at Xataka On. Before joining Webedia, I was a tech reporter at Gizmodo and The Messenger. While I've covered all sorts of things related to technology, I'm specialized in writing about social media, Internet culture, Twitch, and streamers.
The rescue of a 27-year-old Chinese student from Mt. Fuji has produced a wave of criticism in Japan. To be clear, people aren’t mad that he had to be rescued—they’re mad that he had to be rescued twice in the same week.
The first rescue. Japanese authorities received the first call for help from the student, whose name was not revealed publicly, on April 22, according to the Associated Press. He told first responders that he had developed altitude sickness—a term used to describe what happens when your body doesn’t have enough time to adjust to changes in altitude and oxygen available—and that his climbing irons were damaged. He was airlifted from the slopes.
The second rescue. However, just four days later, on April 26 the student was back on the Fujinomiya trail, located about 10,000 feet above sea level, on Mt. Fuji. He was on a quest to find his phone and other belongings that he had left behind during the first rescue, Japanese authorities said.
But going back wasn’t a good idea. The student developed altitude sickness again and became unable to move. He was found by another climber in this state and had to be rescued once more.
Altitude sickness. While altitude sickness may sound harmless to those unfamiliar with it, the condition can lead to serious medical problems. Common symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and trouble sleeping.
People with severe altitude sickness can develop one of two conditions: high- altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). In cases of HAPE, a person’s lungs are affected, causing them to fill up with fluid. Meanwhile, HACE causes a person’s brain to swell. Both conditions can cause death within hours if left untreated.
Public backlash. The incident with the student on Mt. Fuji occurred off-season, a time when the trails are officially closed. Although trails are only open from July to September, there is no penalty for hiking off-season. Furthermore, individuals who need rescue from Mt. Fuji aren’t charged for the service.
However, the double rescue prompted some on social media to demand the student pay for his second rescue, the Associated Press reported.
The tallest mountain in Japan. Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan (about 12,400 feet tall) and an active volcano. It’s been called “the soul of Japan,” and its image has been used to bring together the Japanese people throughout history. Up to 300,000 people make a pilgrimage up the mountain every year, according to Japan’s National Tourism Organization.
Like many natural wonders, Mt. Fuji has suffered from overtourism in recent years, jamming its slopes with people and littering its foothills with trash. To control the onslaught of people, Japanese authorities implemented an entry fee and visitation cap on the mountain’s most popular trail. Similar measures are expected this year.
Images | Aditya Anjagi | Yu
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