JAPANESE K-2 EXPEDITION LEADER SHOJI SAKAMOTO
4 Japanese leave for China to attempt K-2 from North
MAY25-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Elite Japanese climbers from Tokyo
Young Climbers Club will be leaving for Soost China border to attempt K-2,
8611 metres from North.
The
four member team has Shoji Sakamoto (40) as leader and his climbs includes
summits of Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu in Nepal and Korzhenevskaya in Pamir.
The
other ace Japanese climber is Toshiyuki Kitamura (37) with five 8000ers.
Toshiyuki has summits of three 8000ers in Pakistan Broad Peak (95),
Gasherbrum I (97), Nanga Parbat (98 solo). He attempted Gasherbrum II in
1992 and followed it by an unsuccessful bid on K-2 in 1994. In the
Nepalese Himalayas Toshiyuki has
climbed Dhaulagiri in 1997 and Cho Oyu in 1999.
"We
are a small team but we are very hopeful that we will make the climb. The
North side is harder and it will be a tough job for us but Insha Allah we
will make the summit."
"This
will be the third Japanese ascent on the peak if successful," said
Toshiyuki adding," The
first ascent was in 1982 followed by second in 1990 with a little
variation in the lower part of the climb."
The
expedition is taking 2000 metres of ropes to be fixed in difficult portion
of the climb.
The
other two members are Doke Hiroshi (33) and Dr Kazushi Funayama (27). The
two are attempting an 8000er for the first time.
The
expedition will make standard camp sites on the North Ridge.
CAPTION:
Shoji Sakamoto