KATHMANDU: Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru paid tribute to the 10 climbers who lost their lives in the recent Broad Peak avalanche, marking Japan's Mountain Day with a message highlighting the shared mountain and mountaineering traditions of Japan and Nepal.

In a message issued on August 11, Mountain Day in Japan, Ambassador Maeda said the occasion holds special meaning for Japan and Nepal because of their shared connection through mountains and mountaineering.

However, he said this year's Mountain Day was also marked by "deep sorrow" following the deaths of 10 climbers in the recent avalanche on Broad Peak, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and other members of the international climbing community.

"We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of 10 climbers in the recent avalanche on Broad Peak, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and other members of the international climbing community," the ambassador said.

He extended condolences to the families and friends of the deceased climbers and to the wider climbing community.

The ambassador also said the mountains should remind people of the "preciousness of life, human solidarity" and the shared responsibility to respect and protect nature.

Japan celebrates Mountain Day on August 11, a national holiday established to honour mountains and recognise their importance to people's connection with nature.

The message comes less than two weeks after the Broad Peak tragedy, in which 10 climbers from different countries lost their lives in an avalanche on the 8,047-metre mountain in Pakistan.