“I see young guys, mostly sporty, and still, they stop their ascension to Mount Fuji. I have climbed this mountain 10 times, although I’m not young any more. You know, here in Japan this mountain is sacred, it’s a place of pilgrimage for many Japanese. However, it’s not really a number of ascensions which matters, it’s the ability of learning and discovering this mountain anew each time you climb. I hope to have strength and courage to continue – it’s the way of life: never give up, always go further, and accept that nothing is for granted.”