Overview
Encouragement of Climb (ヤマノススメ, 'Yamanosusume') is a manga work written by illustrator Shiro which features high school girls who love climbing.
It has been serialised since the 6th issue of "Comic Earth Star", released in August 2011.
As of September 2021, the series has printed more than 850,000 copies, and as of September 2022, a total of 22 volumes have already been published.
It has also been adapted into anime, with four seasons currently in production.
Directed by Yusuke Yamamoto and animation produced by Eight Bit.
The first season was broadcast from January 2013 as a short five-minute series.
From July 2014, the second season was broadcast as a 15-minute program for two cours of 24 episodes. The third season then aired for 13 episodes in July 2018.
The fourth season, "Next Summit", began broadcasting in October 2022 as a 30-minute animation.
Main Characters
When two cast members are listed, they are in the order of 'Anime version / Comic Earth Star vol. 7 appendix radio-drama CD version'.
Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi / Marina Inoue
She is the protagonist of the series, who is not good at socialising and is an indoor person. A first-year high school student.
Since falling off a jungle gym as a child, she has been afraid of heights.
After being reunited with her childhood friend, Hinata, she gradually awakens to the charms of the mountains, albeit reluctantly.
Voiced by: Kana Asumi / Satomi Satō
Aoi Yukimura's childhood friend, who is full of energy and loves the mountains.
She reunites with Aoi at high school and enthusiastically keeps inviting her to 'see the mountain sunrise we used to see together again'.
She has a father who knows a lot about mountain climbing.
Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa
A senior in high school, one year above Aoi and Hinata.
She met Aoi at an outdoor goods shop and became friends with her.
She is a serious mountaineer and gives Aoi advice on mountain climbing.
She is a reliable girl.
Voiced by: Yui Ogura
A mysterious girl in the second year of junior high school.
She meets Aoi and Hinata on a mountain trail and they become friendly.
She has a relaxed atmosphere, but is actually a firm person.
Loves cute things and animals.
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama
A junior high school girl living in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, whom Aoi met on Mount Tanigawa.
She wants to take landscape photos and climbs mountains with her camera.
Voiced by: Yūko Gibu
She is a sophomore at university and a senior at Aoi's part-time job at a confectionary shop.
She appears to be a frivolous person, but she is firm and caring.
Voiced by: Emiri Iwai
She is the head of the Mountaineering Club at the school Aoi and her friends attend. She is in the same year as Kaede and is smaller than Kokona.
She recruits Aoi to the Mountaineering Club.
Main mountains featured in the series
Mount Tenran (天覧山, Tenran-zan)
A low mountain in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, with an elevation of 197 meters.
It is the first mountain climbed by Aoi and Hinata.
It appears frequently in both the original works and the anime, perhaps because it is an easy mountain to climb.
Mount Tounosu (多峯主山, Tounosuyama)
A low mountain in Hanno City, 271 m above sea level.
Appears in an important scene in the anime.
Mount Takao (高尾山, Takao-san)
A famous 599 m high mountain in Hachioji City, Tokyo.
It is also known for its Tengu legend and is the mountain where Aoi and Hinata first meet Kokona.
Mount Mitsu-Toge (三つ峠, Mitsu-Tōge)
A 1,785 m high mountain in Tsuru City, Nishikatsura Town and Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Also known as Shugendō's sacred mountain, from the top the highest peak in Japan can be clearly seen.
Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san)
Fuji is a volcano straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures and is the highest peak in Japan at 3,776 m above sea level.
Hinata and Kokona have already succeeded in reaching the summit, but Aoi had to give up due to altitude sickness.
Mount Tanigawa (谷川岳, Tanigawa-dake)
A famous mountain at 1,977 m above sea level, located between Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture and Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture.
It is a binaural peak with two summits, Oki no Mimi and Toma no Mimi.
The mountain where Aoi and Hinata made a promise and is the final target of the anime series.
Anime
The series was first animated in 2013 as a five-minute anime, and has since undergone changes such as expanding its airtime, with four seasons having been produced to date.
First season
Five-minute animation produced by Eight Bit. Total of 12 episodes + 1 episode (Blu-ray video bonus).
Broadcast on TOKYO MX, Sun TV and AT-X from January 2013.
Theme song
Ending theme: "Staccato Days" (スタッカート・デイズ)
Lyric by: Emi Inaba / Composed by: Tom-H@ck / Arranged by: yamazo
Song: Aoi (CV: Yuka Iguchi), Hinata (CV: Kana Asumi)
2nd season
2nd season were broadcast from July 2014. 24 episodes.
See Encouragement of Climb Second Season.
OVA
The OVA "Encouragement of Climb: Gift of Memories" (ヤマノススメおもいでプレゼント) was screened in October 2017. The Blu-ray disc was released on 26 January 2018. Two episodes of 28 minutes each.
The theme song is "Omoide Creators" (おもいでクリエイターズ, 'Memories Creators') (sung by Aoi (CV: Yuka Iguchi) and Hinata (CV: Kana Asumi)).
Official PV
3rd season
3rd season were broadcast from July 2018. 13 episodes.
See Encouragement of Climb Third Season.
4th season
See Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit.
Notes
About Climbing Mountains
Climbing mountains is an enjoyable but very profound activity, involving a variety of risks of physical hazards. And the mountains of Japan are deeper than they appear.
Those who want to start climbing mountains should learn the know-how from predecessors with climbing experience (relatives, acquaintances, outdoor shop instructors, etc.) and take the time to select a course that is suitable for your ability and conditions while carefully researching the mountains.
You should also study the etiquette of climbing.
About the Title of the Work
The original title of Encouragement of Climb, "Yama-no-Susume" (ヤマノススメ), is thought to have been taken from the famous book "Gakumon no Susume" (学問のすゝめ, 'Encouragement of Learning') written by Fukuzawa Yukichi, a Japanese Enlightenment thinker and educator of the Meiji era.
Related Videos
"Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit" OP
"Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit" ED
Related Tags
Manga Climbing Yama girl Shiro (manga artist)
Winter 2013 Anime Yuri Eight Bit Earth Star Entertainment
Summer 2014 Anime Fall 2014 Anime Summer 2018 Anime Fall 2022 Anime
