Item: CHANGES IN AVALANCHE FATALITIES BY ACTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED CHALLENGES IN WINTER OUTDOOR RECREATION IN JAPAN
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Title: CHANGES IN AVALANCHE FATALITIES BY ACTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED CHALLENGES IN WINTER OUTDOOR RECREATION IN JAPAN
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Degawa Azusa [ Japan Avalanche Network, Nagano, Japan ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: In Japan, 214 fatal avalanches have occurred over the past 35 years (1991–2025), resulting in 316 deaths. Of these, 84% (267) of the fatalities belonged to the winter outdoor recreation category. The activities included mountaineering, backcountry skiing or snowboarding, snowshoe hiking, snowmobiling, mountain stream fishing, and skiing at ski resorts. The fatalities included people enjoying these activities as leisure and commercial guided tours. The changes in the number of fatalities for each of these winter outdoor activities were summarized as follows: (1) Mountaineering fatalities, which accounted for about 70% of all fatalities in the 1990s, declined in the 2000s, and have not changed significantly since then; (2) Skier fatalities have increased significantly between 2006 and 2016, but have declined in recent years; (3) Major accidents with more than three fatalities have decreased; (4) Snowboarder fatalities are slightly increasing; (5) Half of the skier fatalities in the last 10 years have been foreign nationals, with many accidents involving expert skiers such as guides or professional skiers. This paper reports on the changes in the number of fatalities by activity, and the effectiveness and challenges of the various safety measures implemented by our organization thus far. At the same time, this paper expresses a strong sense of urgency about the increasing number of fatalities among those who visit Japan in search of "JAPOW" snow, and highlights the need for cooperative relationships with specialized institutions in various countries.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P4.9.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099421
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Azusa Degawa
Keywords: Avalanche Accidents
Page Number(s): 437 - 442
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