Ken Noguchi
Japanese mountaineer turned environmental activist cleaning the Himalayas
The youngest non-Sherpa to complete the Seven Summits at 25, Noguchi (b. 1973) now leads clean-up expeditions on Mount Everest. Since 2000, his teams have:
| Year | Waste Removed |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.5 tons |
| 2023 | 35+ tons cumulative |
Through his Japan Clean Everest Campaign, Noguchi created:
- Waste classification systems for high-altitude environments
- International climber deposit systems
- Education programs reaching 50,000+ students
Featured in the documentary Sacred Waste: Cleaning the Roof of the World, Noguchi's work redefines mountaineering ethics in the climate crisis era. Visit his official site for current initiatives.