Interview with Mr. Toshiro Kishimoto, the professional of 'Reiwa era mountain rescue', the leader of Nagano Prefectural Police Mountain Rescue Team

"Shimazaki Sanpo's Mountain News" reports on mountain distress cases in Nagano Prefecture on a weekly basis. As a special series, this time we present an interview with Mr. Toshiro Kishimoto, the leader of the Nagano Prefectural Police Mountain Rescue Team. We asked about the regular activities of the mountain rescue team, including Captain Kishimoto, and episodes during their activities.

"As the leader of the Mountain Rescue Team, could you please tell us about the kind of work the team does?

There are 44 rescue team members in the prefecture, of which 27 are stationed at 6 police stations that oversee high mountains such as the Northern Alps, 7 in the riot police, and 10 in the Mountain Safety Division of the Police Headquarters, where I belong.
Many of the rescue team members stationed at police stations are community police officers who usually work at police boxes and will respond if there is a distress call within their jurisdiction. If a mountain distress occurs that is difficult for a single police station to handle, members from the riot police and the Mountain Safety Division will also be dispatched to assist in rescue and search operations.

In addition, when a concentration of climbers is expected, such as during high season or long holidays, we conduct mountain patrols to actually walk the mountains and talk to climbers. Patrols are sometimes carried out overnight, but in those cases, we hold a short activity called "Yamabiko Safety Lecture" in the evening at a tent site or mountain hut.

The safety lectures are about specific precautions to avoid being lost in distress while citing actual cases of distress, but during the summer mountain period in July and August last year, a total of 102 lectures were held in the prefecture, and about 4,800 climbers listened to Mr./Ms.. It is one of the activities that we are focusing on because we want to reduce even one tragic distress.

In addition, we are actively engaged in disseminating information aimed at preventing distress, utilizing platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. We hope many of you will take a look.

――Are there any trends in climbers and characteristics of people in distress after the transition to Category 5 of the new coronavirus (May 23)?

Last year, in 2023, there were a record number of incidents and individuals involved, with 302 distress incidents and 332 people in distress.

One of the recent trends in mountain distress is the increase in 'successful rescues'. Distress cases are statistically categorized into death, missing, injured, and successfully rescued. In Nagano Prefecture, where there are many steep mountains such as the Alps, the proportion of casualties among those in distress is high. However, the proportion of successful rescues has been increasing year by year, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, with successful rescues accounting for 40% of the cases.

In 2022, 129 out of 310 people, and in 2023, 132 out of 332 people were successfully rescued, marking the highest number for two consecutive years.

"You might think that if the number of casualties decreases and successful rescues increase, it means serious distress incidents are decreasing, but it's not that simple. Among the distress cases classified as 'successfully rescued', there are situations like 'getting lost' or 'exhaustion'. For example, in the case of getting lost, one might be successfully rescued if they are lucky enough to have a cell phone signal to call for help, but one wrong step could lead to them going missing.

Also, rescue requests due to 'inability to move because of fatigue' can lead to serious hypothermia due to the season or weather conditions. In other words, even a 'successful rescue' from distress could potentially lead to the worst-case scenarios of death or disappearance if one misstep is made.

There are several reasons for the increase in such "safe rescue" cases, but as far as we can see from the distress cases we have handled, there is a lack of preparation and physical strength, a reliance on biased information, and a lack of preparedness for accidents. I think this is a partial representation of the image of recent climbers.

Having experienced numerous rescue operations, have there been any particularly challenging ones?

Rescues occurring in winter or on rocky terrains are inherently dangerous. However, such operations are temporary as they conclude once the victim is rescued, despite the definite hardships. On the other hand, missing person searches require gathering various pieces of information from the onset, involve long-term search efforts, and impose significant emotional burdens on families, presenting unique challenges.

--Is there anything you keep in mind when conducting a rescue?

Since rescue operations inherently involve some level of risk, prioritizing safety goes without saying. While the desire to help is important, calm judgment is also required. Therefore, we strive to consider the risks involved in the operation and make decisions based on what can and cannot be done.

I heard that there are thank-you letters from the rescued, could you share a memorable episode?

When we went on a patrol to Mt. Shirouma in the summer before last, the weather suddenly worsened around noon, and we were heading down the mountain when, at around 2pm, we met a middle-aged couple climbing up from below, about halfway up Daisekkei glacier . They were both exhausted and sat down on the trail in the rain, so we became worried and called out to them, and decided to accompany them down the mountain. As expected, the husband's leg started to cramp halfway down, and we managed to get down to Sarukura just before sunset.

Later, we received a letter of gratitude from the couple, and the letter ended with a pledge for safe mountaineering in the future, as well as gratitude and encouragement for our activities, while objectively looking back and reflecting on the plans at that time. Letters like this encourage our activities, and this case reminded us of the significance of not only rescue activities but also patrol activities.

Considering you have been to many accident sites, could you recommend some routes, including those for private hikes?

Mt. Iizuna is a mountain beloved by the people of Nagano. It is a familiar village mountain, but it is also a challenging climb, and when the weather is good, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the Sea of Japan to the Northern Alps and even Mt. Fuji in the distance. It is also a good place to warm up your legs before a full-scale mountain climb.

For enjoying the mountains of Shinshu more safely, could you give some advice to our readers?

I believe no one who drives can confidently say they will never be in a traffic accident. The same can be said for mountain accidents. Thinking 'I might also encounter an accident' naturally leads to more careful preparation and planning, so having such a mindset is crucial.

――We heard the enthusiasm of Captain Kishimoto, who is calm and calm in his mission. When I meet a mountain rescue patrol in the mountains, I want to always try to climb safely so that I can keep a smile on my face is not it!

"Mountaineering Safety Book" is now available at major mountaineering equipment stores!

Surrounded by the Japan Alps and home to many famous peaks, Nagano Prefecture is one of the most mountainous prefectures in the Japan and is visited by many climbers from inside and outside the prefecture. While there are attractive mountainous areas, the number of mountain distress accidents is increasing year by year.

Therefore, in Nagano Prefecture, in order to widely provide mountaineering information and raise awareness of safe mountaineering, a booklet "Mountaineering Safety Book" is published every year and distributed to various places. The 2024 edition has recently been completed.

In 2023, the number of mountain accidents reached 302, surpassing the previous year's record high. Upon examination, it was found that the middle-aged and elderly demographic accounted for about 80% of the total. Additionally, accidents due to poor health, fatigue, and lack of physical strength or skills were prominent.

Therefore, in this edition of the "Mountaineering Safety Book", we have published a special feature "Reading Book for Middle-aged and Elderly Climbers". Mr./Ms. Mayuko Ando (Miura Dolphins), who develops and provides training programs for mountain climbers, publishes "Exercise physiology and how to improve physical deficiency in middle-aged and elderly climbers."

In addition, regarding the prevention of serious accidents caused by illness during mountain climbing, which has become apparent in recent years, "How to deal with illness and fatigue" by Mr./Ms. Yasutoshi Chishima, a mountaineering guide and international mountain doctor, is posted. As a Mr./Ms. to help with safe climbing, there are many contents that you should read.

In addition, various information to support safe mountaineering and guide articles introducing the charm of Shinshu's mountains are also posted. It has been distributed free of charge at major mountaineering equipment stores since April, but if it is difficult to obtain it, you can download and view the PDF from the Nagano Prefectural Police website, so please take this opportunity to get your hands on it.

⇒ Download the "Mountain Safety Book - Climbing is Safe Until You Return Home" (PDF) here