Japanese alpinist Tetsu Hashimoto (2001–2026) was a young climber from Tokyo whose short climbing career was already marked by difficult, exploratory ascents. He graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture in 2023 and was a member of the alpine climbing team Sansai Tori Online. Hashimoto climbed extensively in Japan and abroad, including El Capitan’s The Nose and Zodiac in Yosemite and routes in Canada. In Pakistan, he was part of the first ascent of the west face of Rahman Zom (6,350 m) and the first ascent of the north face of Shiyko Zom (5,709 m). He had also won his age category at Japan’s demanding Hasegawa Tsuneo Cup mountain endurance race. In autumn 2026, the 25-year-old travelled to Nepal with Hidesuke Taneishi for what he described as his most difficult expedition yet: an alpine-style attempt on unclimbed Gangapurna West, involving a wall of around 1,700 metres. The pair lost contact on October 15 after reaching around 7,000 metres. Their bodies were found on October 23 on Gangapurna’s southern side after a multi-day aerial and drone search. Photo ©: Mashu Kawasaki.

BREAKING: Rescuers have found the bodies of Japanese climbers Hidesuke Taneishi and Tetsu Hashimoto at approximately 6,300 metres on Gangapurna’s southern slopes, ending a five-day aerial search. The duo had been missing since 15 October while attempting an alpine-style ascent.

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Japanese alpinist Hidesuke Taneishi (1986–2026) was born in Fukuoka, Japan. He began mountaineering at 24 and took up climbing at 27, eventually building experience across the Himalaya, Alaska, Chamonix, the Dolomites, Canada, Yosemite, South America and Southeast Asia. In 2024, Taneishi and Hiroki Yamamoto made the first ascent of Pholesobi/Phole (6,645–6,652 m) in eastern Nepal, climbing its steep North Face in alpine style via a new 1,500-metre route graded ED+. They reached the summit on October 31. Taneishi returned to Nepal in 2026 with fellow Japanese climber Tetsu Hashimoto to attempt the unclimbed Gangapurna West. The pair disappeared after reaching around 7,050 m on October 15. Following a five-day aerial search, their bodies were found on October 23 at around 6,300 m on Gangapurna’s southern side. Photo showing Hidesuke Taneishi on the summit of Pholesobi Peak. ©: Hiroki Yamamoto.

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