Top 10 Facts about Naomi Uemura

Photo by 663highland on Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Naomi Uemura

Naomi Uemura was born on February 12, 1941, in Kokutu (new Toyooka) in the Tajima region of northern Hyogo prefecture.

He had seven siblings and grew up surrounded by abundant nature in Tajima, known for harsh winter.

Uemura spent his formative years in rural bliss, helping on the farm. He was hardened by the heavy winter snowfall and frigid seasonal wind of the sea of Japan.

Uemura was the first person to reach the north pole amazon and Denali solo. He disappeared a day after his 43rd birthday while attempting to climb Denali in the winter.

1. Naomi Uemura disappearance

Grave of Naomi Uemura. Photo from Wikimedia

One day after his 43rd birthday in February 1984 It’s when Naomi Uemura disappeared.

Naomi was climbing Denali; on reaching the top of Denali, he spoke by radio with Japanese photographers saying that he made it to the top and descended back to 5,500m.

Naomi planned to reach the base camp in another two days but never made it. Planes flew over the mountain looking for him but didn’t see him that day. The next day he was spotted at around 5,100 m.

Two experienced climbers were dropped at 4,300m to being a search. They started at the mountain until February 26 and found a cave and he stayed at 4,300 m.

The search for Naomi Uemura continued without success and most people figured that he had fallen on his descent of the headwall and been hurt, died and buried by snow Uemura.

2. Naomi Uemura began his climbing journey in college

He began climbing in college, hoping that mountaineering activities would increase his self-confidence.

By the time he turned 30, he had done solo climbs to Mount Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Uemura had walked the length of Japan and summited during the first Japanese expedition in 1970 to climb mount forest and the subsequent disastrous 1971 international Everest expedition.

3. He was the first person to reach the north pole solo

Photo of the sled used by Naomi Uemure during his solo trek to the Pole in June 1978. Photo by RobertTheRed on Wikimedia

He preserved and became the first to reach the north pole during his trip. He finished in 57 days.

Uemura wrote that he almost gave up twice during his north pole trip. On the fourth day at his treak, a polar bear invaded his camp and ate his supplies. The polar bear also poked his sleeping bag, laying tense and motionless.

Throughout the trip, he cooperated with the Canadian airforce and received his supplies from its helicopter. This encouraged him to continue with the trip.

Uemura was hunkered down on an Ice floe with his malamutes when a roar of breaking the ice and floe cracked into pieces.

After a night of terror, stranded on a tossing island of ice, Uemura found a three-foot-wide ice bridge and raced to safety.

4. First Denali ascent

Uemura climbed Denali solo in august 1970 becoming the first person to reach the top alone.

He did this fast with a light pack (25 kg) and eight days as august is after the end of the normal climbing season.

He didn’t face horrible weather. The mountain was almost empty with only four other people on it.

Though many people have climbed Denali alone since Uemura, most do it in the middle of the climbing season.

5. He was a Japanese adventure

As an adventurer, he pushed the limits of endurance. Before his death, he racked up an impressive list of accomplishments.

Uemura’s accomplishments included being the first person to climb five of the world’s seven summits and completing a grueling 12,000 km solo journey across the Arctic by dog sled.

He tacked the highest peaks and traversed the harshest landscapes often alone, amassing many achievements.

6. Polar conquest

A commemorative plaque of Naomi Uemura in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. Photo by ThatGuyOnline on Wikimedia

Uemura was fascinated by the polar region, while in the arctic, he embraced the native culture and; language while living in indigenous Inuit communities.

In 1972 he spent a long period in the northern Greenland settlement of Siovapaluk. Locals helped him learn how to drive a dog sled.

He also learned native skills necessary to survive alone in a harsh environment. In 1973 he tried out his growing abilities, setting out by dog sled a round trip journey along the island’s northwest coast covering 3,000 kilometers.

In 1974 set off on an exhausting journey, navigating the frozen rugged expanse. He arrived in Alaska in May 1976.

Uemura’s arrival in Alaska was a major triumph. His success against all odds solidified his reputation as a world-class explorer.

7. Uemura’s account of his journey

He gave numerous public lectures and wrote about his travels. Uemura’s well-written work draws readers in with its vivid depictions of what Uemura depicted, such as his fear of polar bears.

Reading Uemura’s books made you feel like you were there, sitting alongside him on every journey of the remarkable trips.

He wrote an adventure book for children, which became popular in Japan.

8. Uemura Naomi memoria museum

Uemura Naomi Memorial Museum Toyooka Hyogo. Photo by 663highland on Wikimedia

A museum is dedicated to him in Tokyo and another in toyooka, Huogo. Uemura Naomi memoria museum is a facility where you learn about this daring trailblazer’s incredible exploits.

You also get to learn about his dog sled, the down-filled clothing he wore when climbing mountains, the boots from his Everest expedition and other equipment such as tents and ice axis.

You can watch videos of his expeditions at the museum and learn about his life and achievements.

9. He owned a Seiko 6105-8110

Uemura used to wear Seiko 6105-8110 on his adventure, a definitive Seiko watch. This particular Seiko watch is unique and often overlooked, but owners suggest it must be held to know the magic of the watch.

The watch was able to withstand the extreme conditions. For example, Uemura wore when he completed a solo dog-sled run from Greenland to Alaska.

These watches have incredible build quality with exceptional finishing, easy on par with other high-end divers of the same period.

10. Naomi Uemura owned an amateur radio

Uemura was a licensed radio amateur operated signed as JG1QFW. Uemura used amateur radio communication during his expedition.

During his north pole trip, he used the radio to communicate with the Canadian air force when delivering supplies to him.