The attempt to reach uncharted territory is an adventure
To me, adventure is an attempt to reach uncharted horizons, and mountain climbers are the embodiment of this.
For example, Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just seven months. This is an incredible record, as the previous record was about eight years. "Nirmal Purja: The Mountaineer Who Made the Impossible Possible" is a documentary that follows his challenge.
Nirmal Purja is a mountaineer born in Nepal in 1983. This documentary follows him from start to finish as he embarks on his unprecedented adventure, "Project Possible," to conquer all 14 of the world's mountains over 8,000 meters in just seven months. It depicts a man challenging the limits of human endurance. 2021 USA / Director: Torquil Jones / Starring: Nirmal Purja / Noah Media Group / Now streaming exclusively on Netflix. Courtesy of Netflix
He is naturally incredibly strong, but he also puts in extraordinary effort. He served in the Royal Navy Special Forces, and his training is impressive. He wakes up at 3am and runs 20km carrying a 35kg pack. It is precisely because he is willing to endure such a strain that he has been able to reach new heights.
I've never climbed a mountain at high altitudes, as I'm the type of person who always looks for reasons to climb mountains, such as hunting or gathering wild vegetables. However, even someone like me is grateful that we live in an age where we can share breathtaking views with others through video from the comfort of our own homes.
Takano Hideyuki's "Chasing the Mythical Beast Mbembe" is a record of an adventure in pursuit of a mythical beast that has yet to be seen.
In 1988, Hideyuki Takano, then a member of the Waseda University Exploration Club and a future non-fiction writer, set off with his friends to a lake in the depths of the Congo. This is a record of the 40 days they spent searching for the mythical monster Mokele-Mbembe. This work marked Takano's debut as a writer. Author: Hideyuki Takano / Shueisha Bunko / 792 yen.
The Waseda University Exploration Club heads deep into the Congo to search for Mbembe, and the story begins with a scene in which they search for sponsors. The drama that emerges as a by-product of this journey into uncharted territory is also fascinating.
For example, Takano, who was originally quite picky about what he eats, decided to try the crocodile, monkey, and gorilla that he was served locally, and was surprised to find that he didn't mind. This experience broadened his "food range," and he even went on to write a book called "Frontier Food," about his adventures around the world in search of rare foods.
This time I've shown works that involve spatial adventures, but I believe adventures can also occur in everyday life. Trying to pickle plums for the first time, or raising chickens to get eggs, are both adventures in the sense that they take you to horizons you've never seen before.
