Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1947. A dedicated mountaineer since his youth, he became one of Japan's top climbers and opened Japan's first climbing school in 1970. In 1975, he founded Montbell Co., Ltd. He has also left his mark on rivers around the world through canoeing and kayaking. In 1991, he launched Japan's first canoe competition for people with disabilities. In recent years, his activities have extended into the field of outdoor education, serving as a visiting professor at Biwako Seikei Sport College and as a member of an evaluation committee for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).