Japanese climber's monument

Japanese climber's monument

KANDALAKSHA, Russia - A Sept. 7, 2013, photo shows flowers laid on the monument of the late Japanese climber Haruhisa Watanabe near Kandalaksha in Murmansk Oblast, Russia. Watanabe was killed at the age of 31 in a traffic accident in December 2012 in the Murmansk region while on a cycling expedition through Central Asia.

Body of famed Japanese climber killed in Russia returns home

Body of famed Japanese climber killed in Russia returns home

SHIZUOKA, Japan - The coffin containing famed Japanese climber Haruhisa Watanabe arrives at his family's home in the town of Mori, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Jan. 3, 2013. Watanabe, 31, died on Dec. 26, 2012, in a traffic accident in Russia's Murmansk region during a cycling expedition through Central Asia. In 2004, when aged 22, he became the youngest Japanese to scale the tallest peaks of the seven continents.

Watanabe becomes youngest Japanese 'seven summiter'

Watanabe becomes youngest Japanese 'seven summiter'

FUKUOKA, Japan - Haruhisa Watanabe (file photo), a 22-year-old Japanese researcher at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka, has become the youngest Japanese to conquer the tallest peaks on seven continents after climbing Mt. McKinley in North America, his family said June 17.

Watanabe becomes youngest Japanese 'seven summiter'

Watanabe becomes youngest Japanese 'seven summiter'

FUKUOKA, Japan - Haruhisa Watanabe (file photo), a 22-year-old Japanese researcher at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka, has become the youngest Japanese to conquer the tallest peaks on seven continents after climbing Mt. McKinley in North America, his family said June 17. (Kyodo)