Japanese nurse finds her true self in world's 'death zone'
CHILAS, Pakistan (Kyodo) -- By day, Naoko Watanabe works as a nurse. In her spare time, she ventures into the "death zone," where oxygen levels fall t
Naoko Watanabe, a 44-year-old nurse from Japan, has discovered her true self while scaling the world's highest mountains. Two years ago, she became the first Japanese woman to reach the summits of all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, a feat that required overcoming numerous setbacks and near-fatal accidents. Standing at the base camp of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, Watanabe remarked that the mountains are where she feels most like herself.
Her passion for mountaineering began in childhood, as her mother introduced her to survival camping at three and winter mountaineering in elementary school. Despite facing bullying and struggling to express herself away from the mountains, Watanabe found solace in her climbing community. After graduating from a nursing college, she combined her career with climbing, financing expeditions through debt and reduced living costs.
Her Sherpa guides, with whom she built deep friendships, helped her embrace aspects of her personality she once disliked. In her recent book, "Everest is an izakaya," Watanabe recounts her climbing journey and the camaraderie she shares with the Sherpas, describing it as her primary reason for continuing her mountain pursuits.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
