Rei Kawamata completes the 5th Dan/V14 climb of "Dakine"

Climber Rei Kawamata climbed the 5th grade/V14 "Dakine" at Hinokage Boulders in Hinokage Town, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Kawamata posted the following thoughts on his Instagram:

" The rock is big and cool and I really love it.
I was exhausted after three consecutive climbs and my fingers were torn, but I managed to make it to the top ✔︎
It may be a little gentler for a 5th dan.

Posted by: rei.kawamata

Wearing: Iggy shorts, beige

On the difficulty of climbing

In climbing, each route has a number called a "grade" that indicates the difficulty.
For example, in Japan there are the following classifications:

• ~ Level 6 (for beginners) → Large footholds and handholds make it easy to climb
• Level 1 to Level 4 (for intermediate players) → The grips are small, so strength and technique are required
• First dan to third dan and above (for advanced climbers) → Quite difficult, even professionals may not be able to climb it

People tend to think that climbing is about "you can climb if you have strong muscles," but in fact "balance," "movement ingenuity," and "endurance" are also important. The more difficult the route, the more you need to use your body and your brain, not just your muscles.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can do it safely at your local bouldering gym.