Yasuko Namba

Yasuko Namba was a Japanese businesswoman and mountaineer who achieved fame as the second Japanese woman to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents, known as the Seven Summits. She worked as a personnel manager for Federal Express in Tokyo, but her passion for climbing took her to various parts of the world. She started her quest for the Seven Summits in 1982, when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on New Year's Day. She then climbed Aconcagua in 1984, Denali in 1985, Elbrus in 1992, Vinson Massif in 1993, and Carstensz Pyramid in 1994. Her final and most challenging summit was Mount Everest, which she attempted in 1996 with the Adventure Consultants expedition led by Rob Hall. On May 10, 1996, she reached the summit of Everest, becoming the oldest woman to do so at the age of 47. However, she died during her descent in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, along with seven other climbers. She was caught in a blizzard on the South Col, and suffered from severe frostbite and hypothermia. She was left behind by the guides, who could not carry her to the camp without risking their own lives. She was initially thought to be dead, but was later found alive by another guide, who tried to revive her with oxygen and hot tea. However, she succumbed to her injuries and died on the mountain. Her body was recovered in 1997 by a Japanese team and cremated in Kathmandu. She was survived by her husband, Kenichi Namba, who later wrote a book about her life and death. Yasuko Namba was a remarkable woman who pursued her dreams with courage and determination. She inspired many people with her achievements and her spirit of adventure. She was a pioneer of women's mountaineering and a symbol of perseverance and resilience.