12-Year-Old Japanese Girl Conquers Kilimanjaro... "Also Conquered Mt. Fuji"

Climbing Mountains Since Age 4, Summited 100 Famous Peaks in 2 Years
"Next Goal is Vinson Massif, the Highest Peak in Antarctica"

A 12-year-old Japanese child successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa (5,895 meters above sea level).

On the 31st, according to local media including the Yomiuri Shimbun, Rei Banno (伴野嶺, 12), a 6th grader at Chizuka Elementary School in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, recently released photos and videos showing her successful ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro last September with her mother Naomi (49).

In September, Banno Reiyang (12) smiling near the summit of Kilimanjaro.
[Photo by Yomiuri Shimbun]

In July, Banno raised part of the travel expenses through crowdfunding. At that time, she collected 831,210 yen (about 7.5 million KRW), far exceeding the target amount of 300,000 yen (about 2.7 million KRW).

Banno said, "I first saw Kilimanjaro in a mountain magazine when I was in the 2nd grade of elementary school, and I dreamed of the day I would climb it someday." She explained, "Kilimanjaro looks like a very large pudding and is a very beautiful mountain," adding, "Because of global warming, the glaciers are gradually melting, so I wanted to keep its current appearance in my eyes."

She continued, "Kilimanjaro means 'white mountain' in Swahili, and when I reached the summit, I was surprised and saddened to see that the perennial snow had decreased," sharing her thoughts on the climb.

Previously, Banno started climbing at age 4 with Mount Konara (1,712 meters) in Yamanashi Prefecture, and two years later, she achieved the record of climbing the '100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi.'

The '100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi,' designated by Yamanashi Prefecture in 1997, include several high peaks such as Mount Fuji (3,776 meters), the highest peak in Japan.

Banno's next goals are to climb Japan's '300 Famous Mountains' and, when she becomes a high school student, to ascend Mount Vinson Massif (4,892 meters), the highest peak in Antarctica.

She said, "For now, I plan to start by borrowing and reading books about Antarctica from the library."

Banno's mother Naomi said, "Through climbing, I hope my daughter becomes an independent person who can think and make decisions on her own."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.