It is with great sadness for us to inform you that Professor Keiji Higuchi has passed away on 19 October 2018 at the age of 92.

As one of the founding fathers of APN, Professor Higuchi participated in early consultations for the establishment of APN and played a crucial role in laying down the vision, scientific agenda and operational framework of the Network. Since the establishment of APN in 1996, Professor Higuchi has served as the co-chair of the APN Scientific Planning Group until 2000.

Prof. Keiji Higuchi was an eminent glaciologist who pioneered studies in tropical glaciology in the Himalayas. He initiated glaciological studies in Nepal in the early 1970s under the banner of “Glaciological Expedition to Nepal (GEN)”, a Japan-Nepal joint venture. A lasting legacy of Professor Higuchi through this initiative, high-altitude environment and glaciers monitoring in Nepal took root and has since developed into a full-blown activity today involving local and international scientists.