On the upcoming 10th anniversary of the 2014 Mount Ontake eruption, families of the victims embarked on a poignant climb up the 3,067-meter mountain to honor the 58 lives lost and five still missing. Thirteen individuals participated in the memorial climb, paying their respects at the Kengamine peak with a moment of silence at 11:52 a.m., the exact time of the eruption. Flowers were laid and soap bubbles were released in remembrance of the tragedy.
Despite initial feelings of anger towards the mountain, participants like Junichi Horiguchi and Tokiya Matsui found solace and closure in returning to the site of their loved ones’ passing. The emotional journey marked the ninth annual memorial climb, a tradition started in 2016.
Following safety measures implemented last year, the ban on the ridge area between Otaki and Kengamine peaks was lifted, allowing access for the first time since the eruption. While official search efforts for the missing individuals have ceased, families remain dedicated to finding closure, with the help of Mountainworks, a specialist mountain search company.
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