On May 11, 2025, at Shiobara Boulder in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture,
Climber Kawamata Rei climbed the 5th Dan+/V15 difficulty "Hydrangea" and the 5th Dan+/V15 "Babel" on the same day.

Kawamata posted the following thoughts on his Instagram:

" I managed to climb two fifth-level climbs today. I'm happy.
First, I started working on the hydrangeas. I used to struggle with the lower parts, but now I can do them with ease. They've grown so much.
After that, I tried Babel, which I had never tried before. After checking the moves, I connected them and managed to do it on the first try ✌🏻
There are still many tasks that Shiobara wants to do 🔥

Posted by: rei.kawamata

Wearing: Iggy shorts

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.