American Student Rescued Twice from Japan’s Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s most famous mountains, draws many adventurous hikers. But a recent visitor caused quite a stir. A 22-year-old American student on a study exchange program had to be rescued not once, but twice within just four days.

The first rescue happened on April 29, when the student got stuck in a snowy area about 3,000 meters up the mountain. Emergency teams worked for hours to bring him down safely, risking their own safety to do so.

To everyone's surprise, just four days later, on May 3, he climbed the mountain again. This time, he said he was trying to find his lost phone. He ended up exhausted and without proper gear, needing another rescue.

Mount Fuji is actually closed to climbers this time of year because of snow, wind, and dangerous conditions. Clear warning signs are posted, saying that climbing isn’t allowed until July. The student ignored these warnings, and many people on Japanese social media were upset. “This is arrogance and disregard,” one person wrote. Others suggested he should be fined.

The local mayor told reporters the city might charge the student for the cost of the rescues, which added up to tens of thousands of yen each time. Government officials also spoke up, reminding everyone that Mount Fuji is a dangerous place and not a public park.

This story has sparked new discussions about how some tourists behave, especially when they ignore local rules. As one comment said, “This isn’t bravery, it’s being irresponsible.”