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Kei Taniguchi Dies on Japan Mountain

Kei Taniguchi, 43, was the first woman to win the Piolet d’Or in 2009 and was a well-known Japanese alpinist.

Kei Taniguchi.  Photo Japan's Alpine Club
Kei Taniguchi. Photo Japan’s Alpine Club

On Dec. 22, Taniguchi’s body was found on Mount Kuro on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. She had bee climbing with a group before an accident occured on the descent. According to reports, she untied from the rope for a break behind a boulder. When her partners went looking for her, they found her gloves and evidence that she had fallen.

She had been part of expeditions around the world. In 2009, she won a Piolet d’Or with Kazuya Hiraide for their new alpine-style route named Samurai Directe M5 WI5 1,800m on the southeast face Kamet 7,756m in India.

According to the Piolet d’Or, Taniguchi was inspired by Japanese climber Naomi Uemura who was the first Japanese climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the North Pole and the summit of Denali. After Taniguchi reached the summit of Denali in 2001, she dedicated her life to alpine climbing. In 2004, she made the second alpine-style climb of the East Arete of Mustagh Ata in China and in 2005 climbed Shivling. Over the next few years, she climbed Manaslu and Everest.

Taniguchi was called by many one of the leading female alpinists of her generation.

 

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