Japanese Women To Climb In N.Z.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31237, 8 December 1966, Page 2

Japanese Women To Climb In N.Z.

Four young Japanese women climbers who arrived in Christchurch yesterday plan to spend the next two months scaling New Zealand mountains. They have only one problem—their average height is a little over five feet and they do not know if they will be able to keep pace with the “fast-walking Kiwis.”

“Japanese walk very slowly, but New Zealanders go very quickly. We just hope we can keep up,” Miss Shiomi .Akita said somewhat anxiously. Misses Setsuko Yamaguchi, Ikuko Takeda, and Hiroo Ohabe, share the concern but all are optimistic.

They are preparing to travel light, with packs several pounds lighter than are usual in Japan. Apparently their delicate appearance is deceiving, for all four are seasoned mountaineers.

Miss Yamaguchi, who has been climbing for 10 years, is the leader of the party. However, Miss Akita is their spokeswoman—she works at the New Zealand embassy in Tokyo and seems to have little difficulty with the native accent and idiom. Bright and outgoing, she would like to stay in New Zealand. This desire is shared by her colleagues. “The people have been so kind to us and it is a lovely country—so many mountains. But we have to go back home,” said Miss Yamaguchi with a smile.

Lives Ruled Mountains rule their spare time. Week-ends are spent climbing, and there is little

time or inclination for other social life.

“We meet lots of people, but mostly climbers,” said Miss Akita.

As members of the women’s group of the Japanese Alpine Club they first heard of the “wonderful climbing opportunities" in New Zealand from a senior woman member who visited the Dominion some years ago.

When the trouble between India and Pakistan arose their hopes for a climbing holiday in the Himalayas were dashed. When they received an invitation from the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Alpine Club to join a mountaineers’ camp at Hopkins Valley over Christmas they were delighted.

Gave Up Jobs All have given up their jobs at home, but consider this no sacrifice. Two months* climbing and learning new techniques is ample compensation.

On Friday morning they will leave Christchurch for Arthur’s Pass, where they will spend three days in which they will have their first experience of a glacier. Asked how their parents felt about their often hazardous hobby they agreed that parents were the same everywhere. “They worry about, us, but have given up complaining,” they said. Mountaineering has a firm grip on these young women. Exposure to storms and avalanches was indeed frightening, but was no deterrent.

“I would go on climbing even if I lost an arm,” Miss Akita said.