Everest Ascent and Tragedy. Junichi Futagami and I were supported by six Sherpas. We climbed the normal North Col route of Everest. We established Base Camp, Camps I, II, III, IV, V and VI at 5154, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7028, 7790 and 8200 meters on April 29, May 1, 2, 3, 13, 14 and 26. On May 27, we two Japanese and Sherpas Nima Dorje and Finjo reached the summit at one P.M. Futagami was behind me on the descent. After we had descended some 150 meters, we noticed he was not following us. When we climbed back up, we saw scratches from his crampons as he fell to his death down the east-face side of the summit ridge.

Muneo Nukita, Alpine Tour Service, Japan