About Yuichiro Miura
Born on October 12, 1932, in Aomori Prefecture, Miura learned to ski from his father as a child. He participated in Alpine skiing competitions and later became a professional skier. In 1970, he skied down Mount Everest, becoming the first person in the world to ski from an altitude of 8,000 meters. The documentary film “The Man Who Skied Down Everest” about this feat won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1975.
In 2003, at the age of 71, he summited Everest, setting the then-oldest age record for a climber. On May 26, 2008, he summited again, aiming to break his own record, only to learn that Nepali climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, one year his senior, had reached the top a day earlier on May 25, thus resetting the record.
Training gear for Everest comes with a high price tag
According to Japanese media, Miura’s training room is located in an office in Shibuya, Tokyo. The room is equipped with a hypobaric chamber that simulates the air environment at around 6,000 meters altitude, reducing oxygen levels to half of that found at sea level. At altitudes above 8,000 meters, oxygen levels typically drop to about one-third of sea-level concentrations. This setup greatly helped Miura prepare and acclimate for climbing Everest, which stands at 8,848 meters. At times, Miura would spend entire days in the hypobaric chamber, reading during the day and resting at night inside it.
Last autumn, while in the Himalayas, Miura suffered from arrhythmia during a climb but was saved thanks to prompt medical assistance. However, due to heart palpitations, he was once stranded near 5,000 meters and couldn’t descend further. After considerable effort, Miura managed to return to Japan and underwent a series of surgeries. The surgeries were highly successful, and his doctors were amazed by his recovery. By March of this year, with support from the Kunigami Sports University, Miura had fully regained his health.
In top form this year, matching that of someone in their 20s
Prior to this Everest summit, Miura’s physical metrics were at their peak in recent years — for example, his grip strength reached 40 kilograms with both hands, his back muscle strength hit 148 kilograms, and his bone density was nearly on par with that of people in their 20s.
Behind the 80-year-old summit is 100 million yen in backing
Climbing Everest demands not only exceptional physical condition but also significant financial resources. Miura’s summit attempt was funded mainly through personal donations and corporate sponsorships. Personal donations totaled 20 million yen, six companies contributed 90 million yen, and an outdoor gear manufacturer provided him with clothing and equipment. The entire expedition cost approximately 100 million yen (about 6.03 million RMB), including fees paid to Nepalese authorities and the costs of hiring a team of 30 staff members, including guides, doctors, and chefs.
With economic and technological advancements, more people are attempting to conquer Everest. Some Everest guides have even publicly urged climbers to join group expeditions. In Japan, a travel company has even launched an alternative Everest climbing tour package, requiring each participant to be in perfect health, undergo long-term high-altitude training prior to the summit attempt, at a fee of 7 million yen (about 420,000 RMB) per person. By the way, that’s even more expensive than in China.