What is the Avalanche Accident Prevention Study Group (ASSH)?
The Association for Avalanche Safety and Security (ASSH) is an organization that raises awareness and educates people about scientific knowledge to prevent avalanche accidents, such as the science of avalanches, avalanche meteorology, and avalanche medicine, as well as cutting-edge, practical search and rescue methods. Every year, ASSH holds avalanche accident prevention seminars, lectures, avalanche schools, and AvSAR workshops for people involved in snow activities, from skiers and snowboarders to mountain guides, ski and snowboard guides, ski patrols, and public rescue team members
Lecture: "Protecting Yourself from Avalanches"
This seminar is usually held towards the start of the avalanche season, and this year the theme will be "Protecting Yourself from Avalanches" and will be held at five locations across the country: Sapporo (October 25th), Mt. Oyama (November 5th), Tochigi (November 29th), Tokyo (November 30th), and Hakuba (December 13th). All sessions require advance registration and are free to attend
[Purpose] To promote scientific knowledge of snow, avalanches, and weather; avalanche risk management; search and rescue methods; learning from avalanche accident cases; promoting medical knowledge about hypothermia; and promoting air rescue by the Hokkaido Disaster Prevention Air Corps. [Target Audience
] Mountain climbers, skiers, snowboarders and other snow mountain enthusiasts; students; rescue team members from public institutions; guides; ski patrol; doctors; nurses and other medical professionals.
2025 Lecture Series "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches" Schedule
■ Sapporo October 25, 2025 (Sat) 10:00~18:00 33rd Sapporo Lecture "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches"《Pre-registration required》
■ Mt. Daisen November 15, 2025 (Sat) 10:00~18:00 2nd Mt. Daisen Lecture "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches"《Pre-registration required》
■ Tochigi November 29, 2025 (Sat) 10:00~18:00 8th Tochigi Lecture "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches"《Pre-registration required》
■ Tokyo November 30, 2025 (Sun) 10:00~18:00 7th Tokyo Lecture "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches"《Pre-registration required》
■ Hakuba December 13, 2025 (Sat) 14:00-21:00 6th Hakuba Lecture: "How to Protect Yourself from Avalanches"《Pre-registration required》
The lectures are presented in an anthology format by multiple experts, covering a wide range of topics including the science of avalanches, avalanche risk avoidance, medical aspects related to avalanche accidents, avalanche search and rescue techniques, and behavioral science surrounding avalanches from mountain guides.
For reference, the program for the Tokyo venue is as follows.
[Tokyo Lecture Program]
10:00-10:05 Opening Remarks
10:05-11:05 "Snowfall and Weather" "Meteorological Observation and Information Provision in Mountainous Areas by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience"
Kazuki Nakamura ((Public Interest Incorporated Association) Snow and Ice Disaster Research Team, (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience))
11:05-12:05 "The Science of Snow and Avalanches"
Toshihiro Ozeki ((Public Interest Incorporated Association) Snow and Ice Disaster Research Team, Avalanche Accident Prevention Research Association, Hokkaido University of Education)
13:00-13:50 "Avalanche Search and Rescue (AvaSAR)"
Kosuke Kanemura ((Public Interest Incorporated Association) Snow and Ice Disaster Research Team, (Public Interest Incorporated Association) Japan Mountain Guide Association, (NPO) Donkoro Outdoor School)
13:50-14:40 "The Behavioral Science of Mountain Guides - To Avoid Avalanches -"
Takaaki Sasakura ((Public Interest Incorporated Association)Public Interest Incorporated Association) Snow and Ice Disaster Research Team, Vice Chairman of Hokkaido Mountain Guide Association
14:50-15:50 "The Behavioral Science of Ski Guides - To Avoid Avalanches and to Save Your Companions from Avalanches"
, (Public Interest Incorporated Association) Japan Mountain Guide Association, Hokkaido Backcountry Guys)
16:00-17:00 "Risk Management for Snowboarders"
Shinya Nakagawa ((Public Interest Incorporated Association) Snow and Ice Disaster Research Team, (Public Interest Incorporated Association) Japan Mountain Guide Association, natures.)
17:00-18:00 "Medical Knowledge Necessary for Avalanche Search and Rescue"
Tei Asai ((Public Interest Incorporated Association) Japan Mountain Guide Association, Rishiri Island National Health Insurance Central Hospital)
18:00-18:05 Closing Remarks
This is a valuable opportunity for backcountry skiers and snowboarders to learn useful specialized knowledge and practical know-how
■For applications and details, please click here
: http://www.assh1991.net
◇Avalanche Accident Prevention Research Group https://www.assh1991.net/
ASSHwas established in 1991 and has been actively working ever since, with members including alumni of the Hokkaido University Ski Club, Mountaineering Club, and Wanderlust Club, as well as researchers from the Hokkaido University Institute of Low Temperature Science, skiers who enjoy snow-covered mountains, mountaineers, and doctors.