Akio Shinya is one of Japan’s most legendary guides and mountaineers. When he’s not out rescuing lost snow boarders,
he is barrelling down some of Japan’s and the world’s biggest mountains. In
this article from
Ski Magazine, we meet Shinya, and learn a bit about how this master of disaster
deals with saving lives, climbing the world’s tallest peaks, and playing the violin.
The article also examines the Japanese resort of Niseko, the largest ski area
on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. The resort squats just a few hundred miles off the coast of Russia
where powerful Siberian storms slam into the mountain and create some of the world’s best snow. it is a popular
destination for Asian and European skiers who lust for great snow, great skiing, and something new.