Forgotten Tōge
Tōge(峠) is the Japanese word for mountain pass.
Its kanji transcription is both obvious and very interesting. It is made up of a radical kanji meaning mountain (Yama) and two other very common kanji in the Japanese language meaning: up or above and down or under.
A pass is not just a topographic point or an intersection with a ridge line associated with an altitude. The kanji transcription shows us that a mountain pass can be a dynamic point. That there is an ascent to this point, which requires an effort.
“The forgotten Tōge” is the theme of this year edition. It will go through the regions of Kyushu, Shikoku, the Kumano area and the Japanese Alps. And will take the entrants on ancient mountain roads. The ones we love. The ones where you can encounter fallen rocks and debris on. The ones that are generally no longer maintained.
The route is set and will soon be unveiled.
Be prepared for the “forgotten Tōge”.