Before reaching Peru, he taught boxing in Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya. Mr. Katayama told a Japanese news outlet that he had considered joining the emergency evacuation flights organized by Japan’s government in the spring, but found them too expensive. He ultimately decided to stay, postponing his departure in the hopes that Machu Picchu would soon reopen. News of his persistence had resulted in hundreds of well-wishers offering to petition the authorities on his behalf, he said on Instagram. Mr. Neyra, the culture minister, said that the authorities had received a visitor application for Mr. Katayama and decided to grant him special access before his return to Japan.

Source: New York Times October 13, 2020 10:04 UTC