Sacred Fuji

[Taro Toporific]

Climber-activist Noguchi dreams of a cleaner Fuji
Asahi.com Jun 26 2003 2:31AM
...On an attempt to climb Mount Everest in 1997, a Western companion asked Noguchi, ``Are the Japanese going to turn the Himalayas into another Mount Fuji?''
At first Noguchi was puzzled-what does Fuji have to do with Everest? Then he saw the packages of ramen noodles littered across Everest's slopes.
``Until then, I thought Mount Fuji was beautiful,'' recalls the 29-year-old climber. ``In fact, it was tainted-and what embarrassed me most was that a non-Japanese made me realize it.''...
.. Noguchi is trying to persuade Japanese officials to pitch Mount Fuji for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In May, officials at the Environment Ministry and Forestry Agency left Fuji off their final list of recommended sites.
...``There are shops (along the slopes) that don't suit the alpine environment. You can find those same shops in the Shibuya and Harajuku areas in Tokyo,'' commented Noguchi.
``From a Westerner's point of view, it's all so bizarre.''

[cstaylor]

I wish he would have expounded on this comment:

``From a Westerner's point of view, it's all so bizarre.''

As a non-westerner, what is his point of view? That's it's okay to be a pollutin' punk as long as no whiteys throw it in your face?

[Big Booger]

Why don't they put litter baskets or cans along the most traveled routes to the top of Fujisan? Now I can't see that being a possibility on Everest.. who the hell is going up there to empty the cans LOL

[Marked Trail]

I wish he would have expounded on this comment:

``From a Westerner's point of view, it's all so bizarre.''

As a non-westerner, what is his point of view?....

I guess he is referring to grand talent of the Japanese to not see life around themselves... litter, overhead wires, plumbing hanging on the outside buildings, and the general clutter in their homes. Mount Fuji is just a reflection of the rest of Japan.

[bejiita]

Why don't they put litter baskets or cans along the most traveled routes to the top of Fujisan?

I think you still have a similar problem in that who is going to haul all the crap down? What I want to know is what the hell do they do with all the shit up there in the outhouses? Do they burn it? Does anyone know? Anyone? Anyone?

[Taro Toporific]

... who is going to haul all the crap down? What I want to know is what the hell do they do with all the shit up there in the outhouses? Do they burn it? Does anyone know? Anyone? Anyone?

There's a service road all the way to the top. The "mountain huts" are serviced by 40hp dual-tread tractors. Draft horses go up this road too. However, the shit is just dumped over the lava fields so the mountain gets REAL ripe in late August.

I've been up Fuji-san three times: I failed twice because of freak snow storms but I was successful during a cool and refreshing typhoon.

[Marked Trail]

Pearl of Fuji
asahi.com -- July 24, 2013: In this long exposure image, 'Pearl Fuji', the phenomenon the full moon sets on the summit of Mt. Fuji, is observed in Yamanakako, Yamanashi Pref.

pearl-of-fuji.jpg

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Lovely photo