Api Main | 1973 W Ridge

A Japan expedition to Api Main in 1973 via W Ridge, led by Kuniharu Ichikawa. Summit reached on 1st May 1973. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	2349
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
Host Country	1
Route 1	W Ridge
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	Japan
Leaders	Kuniharu Ichikawa
Sponsor	Chuo University Api Expedition 1973
Success 1	False
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	-
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	-
Approach	-
Basecamp Date	1973-04-01
Summit Date	1973-05-01
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	30
Total Days	0
Termination Date	-
Termination Reason	4
Termination Notes	Abandoned at 6150m due to bad weather and climbing difficulties
High Point (m)	6150
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	4
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	9
Summit Members	0
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	4
Summit Hired	0
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	False
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Taken	False
O2 Unknown	False
Other Summits	-
Campsites	BC(01/04,4000m),C1(01/04,4800m),C4(29/04,6000m),xxx(01/05,6150m)
Route Notes	Ichikawa & Hirota - 4 June 73 All members to Kathmandu today. 5 members reached highest point 6150m on 1 May. Bad weather: snow and everyday afternoon bad weather; only 6 hrs climbing time each day. Their ridge route very long. 30 days to reach C4 with time-consuming route-finding. 20 more days to reach summit and much hard work. They attacked West Ridge, very unknown ridge. We didn't know surface. Turned out to be rock and ice and very steep slope and everyday icefalls and rock fall; sometimes climb only 100m in one day. It's possible reach summit this route. Would like to try again and might be successful. Time: both Hirota and he want to try again after 2-3 yrs. All members and Sherpas unscathed, no yeti. Ichikawa, Moroi & Hirota - 23 Feb 73 All members arrive today. Probably same route on Api as 1971 Japanese, S Face, maybe W Ridge. Flight to Damgori early March - Baitadi leaving Dagari 4 or 5 March and reached base end March. 57 days from base to summit. 10 May we hope summit. 1971 no good weather; late reaching base and lots of rain. "I hope this year good weather" says leader, maybe now stronger team. 4 Sherpas & cook, kitchen boy & 2 mailrunners. Hope all members to summit.
Accidents	-
Achievement	-
Agency	-
Commercial Route	-
Standard Route	-
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	-
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2446882
Year	1973
Summit Success	False
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	w ridge

Members

Field	Value
ID	3320
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	01
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Kuniharu
Last Name	Ichikawa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1940
Calculated Age	33
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Leader
Residence	Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Interior decorating firm - staff member
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2427712
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	kuniharu ichikawa
Year of Birth	1940
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	33
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	3321
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	02
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Yasunori
Last Name	Hirota
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1943
Calculated Age	30
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Deputy Leader
Residence	Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Staff member, Nakamura Electric Industry
Leader	False
Deputy	True
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2428785
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	yasunori hirota
Year of Birth	1943
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	30
Role	Deputy

Field	Value
ID	3322
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	07
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Yoonsuke
Last Name	Moroi
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1941
Calculated Age	32
Citizenship	Japan
Status	BC Manager
Residence	Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Staff member, his father's firm selling petrolium products
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	True
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	17
HCN	0
Checksum	2428093
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	yoonsuke moroi
Year of Birth	1941
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	32
Role	BC Only

Field	Value
ID	3323
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	06
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Katsuyuki
Last Name	Kumano
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1943
Calculated Age	30
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Hiroshima, Japan
Occupation	Staff member, woolen goods, Chugoku Daiya Co.
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2428851
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	katsuyuki kumano
Year of Birth	1943
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	30
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	3324
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	08
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Kiyoshi
Last Name	Oba
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1945
Calculated Age	27
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Nagano, Japan
Occupation	Staff member, motor car Co.
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2429825
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	kiyoshi oba
Year of Birth	1945
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	28
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	3325
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	09
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Takayoshi
Last Name	Ogawa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1947
Calculated Age	26
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Kanagawa-ken, Japan
Occupation	Electric designer (Fuji Keiki Co.)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2430297
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	takayoshi ogawa
Year of Birth	1947
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	26
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	3326
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	03
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Kazunari
Last Name	Agio
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1946
Calculated Age	26
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Niigata, Japan
Occupation	Staff member, thread manufacturing & sales firm
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2430190
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	kazunari agio
Year of Birth	1946
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	27
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	3327
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	04
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Yoo
Last Name	Hamamoto
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1948
Calculated Age	25
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Kagoshima-ken, Japan
Occupation	Law student (Chuo University)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2430616
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	yoo hamamoto
Year of Birth	1948
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	25
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	3328
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	05
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Masashi
Last Name	Kobayashi
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	0
Citizenship	Japan
Status	Climber
Residence	Hokkaido, Japan
Occupation	Economics student (Chuo University)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	-20
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	masashi kobayashi
Year of Birth	-
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	28183
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Member ID	10
Peak ID	APIM
Year	1973
Season	1
First Name	Ang Chotare
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	0
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	Sirdar
Residence	Thami, Khumbu
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	True
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	-20
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	ang chotare sherpa
Year of Birth	-
Year	1973
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Hired

10 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Kuniharu Ichikawa	M	1940	Japan	Leader	Tokyo, Japan	Interior decorating firm - staff member	Details Other expeditions
Yasunori Hirota	M	1943	Japan	Deputy Leader	Tokyo, Japan	Staff member, Nakamura Electric Industry	Details Other expeditions
Yoonsuke Moroi	M	1941	Japan	BC Manager	Tokyo, Japan	Staff member, his father's firm selling petrolium products	Details Other expeditions
Katsuyuki Kumano	M	1943	Japan	Climber	Hiroshima, Japan	Staff member, woolen goods, Chugoku Daiya Co.	Details Other expeditions
Kiyoshi Oba	M	1945	Japan	Climber	Nagano, Japan	Staff member, motor car Co.	Details Other expeditions
Takayoshi Ogawa	M	1947	Japan	Climber	Kanagawa-ken, Japan	Electric designer (Fuji Keiki Co.)	Details Other expeditions
Kazunari Agio	M	1946	Japan	Climber	Niigata, Japan	Staff member, thread manufacturing & sales firm	Details Other expeditions
Yoo Hamamoto	M	1948	Japan	Climber	Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Law student (Chuo University)	Details Other expeditions
Masashi Kobayashi	M	-	Japan	Climber	Hokkaido, Japan	Economics student (Chuo University)	Details Other expeditions
Ang Chotare Sherpa	M	-	Nepal	Sirdar	Thami, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	1346
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Reference ID	01
Year	1973
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	-
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1974
Language	-
Citation	48:206 (1974)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	13133
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	APIM73101
Reference ID	02
Year	1973
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197420604/Asia-Nepal-Api-West-Ridge-Attempt
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
APIM73101	AAJ	-	-	-	48:206 (1974)	-
APIM73101	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197420604/Asia-Nepal-Api-West-Ridge-Attempt	-	-	-