Episode Details

Welcome to Manga Monday!

This week we're diving into The Climber, also known as Kokou no Hito, illustrated by Shinichi Sakamoto and based on a novel by Jiro Nitta inspired by the life of real solo climber Buntaro Kato.

Mori Buntaro is a deeply introverted kid who transfers to a new high school, gets dared into climbing the school building, and in that moment discovers the only thing that's ever made him feel alive. What follows is a lifetime of chasing higher and harder peaks, from high school climbing clubs all the way to K2. But this isn't really a sports manga. It's a character study about isolation, depression, obsession, and what happens when the only place you feel at peace is somewhere that can kill you.

Winner of the Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival, ranked in the top 100 on MyAnimeList, and now being published in English by VIZ.

If you want a manga that makes you feel the cold, the height, and the loneliness all at once, this is the one for you.

If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, like, and subscribe to Sakura Society | An Anime Appreciation Podcast — and any other podcasts you love. It takes seconds, costs nothing, and means everything to us creators. (The algorithm only accepts 5 stars, just so you know.)

• Stay up to date with me on Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter
• Join our Discord — a community full of anime and culture fans just like you
• Follow my anime Spotify playlist

My amazing sponsors:

• Audio-Technica — the best in audio equipment
• Iced Tea Aesthetics — anime streetwear done right (use code SAKURASOCIETY5 at checkout to save $5)
• Japan Crate — Japanese snacks and treats delivered to your door (use code ATEBIT15 at checkout to save 15% + get free shipping)

Affiliate links:

• Captivate.fm - the best podcast hosting platform
• Komi.io - the best linkinbio website
• Riverside.fm - the best remote video/podcast recording platform