THINK SOUTH Day

What Is THINK SOUTH Day?

December 11th is "THINK SOUTH Day" in Japan. It marks December 11, 1989, when an international team of six explorers from six countries reached the South Pole, the midpoint of their crossing of Antarctica. It was established by the organizing committee of "THINK SOUTH FOR THE NEXT," a project marking the 30th anniversary of that dog-sled crossing, and certified by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2020.

220 Days and Roughly 6,040 Kilometers by Dog Sled

In July 1989, six explorers including Japan's Keizo Funatsu set out on the first dog-sled crossing of the Antarctic continent.

• Departure: July 1989, with the aim of calling attention to the environment and to peace
• South Pole: reached December 11, 1989, the midpoint of the traverse
• Completion: on March 3, 1990, all six finished 4,000 miles (about 6,040 km) in 220 days
• Their watchword: across eight months and every barrier of language and culture, the phrase that drove them was "THINK SOUTH"

Sent Out Again Thirty Years Later

2019 marked thirty years since the crossing, and the six explorers gathered for a symposium that carried their message from Tokyo to the world again. The anniversary commemorates the project that revisits and carries forward the questions about modern society they raised at the time. The project is supported by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and the National Institute of Polar Research, among others.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Look up Antarctica's area and temperatures and compare them with Japan
• Trace the dog-sled route on a map
• Pair it with International Mountain Day, also December 11th, and think about the natural environment
• Write down one thing you want to attempt next year

A Polar Story for a Freezing Season

December is when the cold sets in for real. The 11th is a day to remember the people who spent 220 days crossing the coldest place on earth.