TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Japanese authorities have intensified their search for a 31-year-olf Taiwanese man who went missing while climbing Mount Yari (槍岳) in the Hida Mountains (飛驒山脈) of Gifu Prefecture (岐阜縣). He is described as having a slim build, short hair, and wearing a red jacket with black pants, according to a Japanese media report. The man arrived in Japan on Nov. 26 and intended to descend the mountain by Dec. 9. However, he lost contact, prompting a friend in Japan to alert the Nagano Prefecture (長野縣) police, according to Gifu Newspaper Digital (岐阜新聞).
The missing climber had planned to embark on his journey from the Shin-Hotaka Onsen (新穗高溫泉) area on Nov. 28. He would traverse several points, including the Yaridaira Goya (槍平小屋), Yarigatake Sanso Hut (槍岳山莊), and Minamidake (南岳), before returning to the starting point. Gifu Prefecture police deployed a helicopter and a mountain rescue team on Dec. 10 to search the challenging terrain, known as the Northern Alps. Despite their efforts, they have yet to locate the climber. Authorities plan to resume the search on Dec. 18.
Mount Yari, often referred to as the "Matterhorn of Japan," is a popular destination among mountain enthusiasts, standing as the fifth-highest peak in Japan at 3,180 meters.
