Rei Kawamata completes the climb of "Mandrake" 5th dan +/V15

At Shiobara Boulder in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture,
Climber Kawamata Rei climbed "Mandoragora," a difficulty level of 5th dan+/V15 .

Kawamata posted the following thoughts on his Instagram:

" I couldn't make the toe after the spin and it kept falling off, but when I changed the place where I put it, it was a one-shot. I thought it was a holding technique, but it turned out to be a trick. Maybe it's V14? I'm not sure. "

Posted by: rei.kawamata

Wearing: Beige Iggy shorts, Street T-shirt

On the difficulty of climbing

In climbing, each route has a number called a "grade" that indicates the difficulty level.
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 sometimes cannot climb

People tend to think that climbing is about "being strong," 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 want to try it for yourself, you can do it safely at your local bouldering gym.