Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
CLIMBING/SPORTS GUIDE<br />
of those other amazing aspects<br />
that draw people to climbing too;<br />
they’re all important to share.<br />
When did you realise that<br />
climbing could become more<br />
than just a hobby for you?<br />
It’s actually only very recently<br />
that I started to think about<br />
dedicating myself and my future<br />
to the sport of climbing. I’ve been<br />
participating in competitions<br />
since I was in high school, but<br />
even then, I hadn’t thought about<br />
it as a career – that’s a decision<br />
that’s come about recently.<br />
Taking any sport from hobby<br />
to pro level obviously requires<br />
an incredible amount of focus<br />
and training. How have you<br />
kept yourself motivated?<br />
Since the very beginning it’s<br />
always been as simple as just<br />
setting myself challenges in the<br />
climbing gyms and then trying<br />
to overcome as many of them as<br />
possible. If it’s set up as a route in<br />
a gym, then I figure that it should<br />
be doable, so I always approach<br />
it from that perspective and then<br />
I get really annoyed if I’m not<br />
able to complete it. And then<br />
that becomes the fun part in itself<br />
– figuring out what I need to do<br />
to overcome that challenge, and<br />
then the next one, and the one<br />
after that. It’s never-ending!<br />
Speaking of taking on new<br />
challenges, is it true you<br />
undertook a two-week-long<br />
fast. What was that about?<br />
It was actually my first time<br />
trying it, and it was not so much<br />
me doing it specifically for<br />
climbing-related reasons; rather,<br />
it was more of a holistic approach<br />
to making sure that my body was<br />
detoxed and to make sure that<br />
I’m physically in peak condition<br />
to then step up my training.<br />
Is this something that athletes<br />
typicially do a lot in the<br />
climbing community?<br />
I haven’t really heard of anyone<br />
else in my peer group doing<br />
similar – I think I’m the first!<br />
How are you feeling about the<br />
big event ahead?<br />
It’s going to be very special to<br />
compete at home, but I don’t feel<br />
any extra pressure in terms of<br />
expectations with it being here.<br />
Gunma<br />
Climb like Kai<br />
1. B-PUMP Ogikubo<br />
Situated out west in<br />
the quiet confines of<br />
Ogikubo, B-Pump is<br />
one of the most wellknown<br />
climbing gyms<br />
in Tokyo, offering<br />
something for both<br />
beginners and<br />
seasoned climbers<br />
alike. “I like B-Pump<br />
because you can do<br />
everything there,”<br />
explains Harada.<br />
“Whether it’s the<br />
size of the walls, or<br />
the breadth of inclines<br />
that you’re looking<br />
for, B-Pump has it<br />
all, which makes it<br />
somewhere I often<br />
go to train.”<br />
Address:<br />
167-0043 Tokyo,<br />
Suginami City,<br />
Kamiogi 1−10−12,<br />
Ogikubo Toa, 3F<br />
Saitama<br />
Tokyo<br />
Kanagawa<br />
1 2<br />
Tochigi<br />
Ibaraki<br />
Chiba<br />
2. Rocky Climbing &<br />
Fitness Gym<br />
Of all Tokyo’s 23<br />
wards, Shinjuku could<br />
be the one that least<br />
promotes a healthy<br />
lifestyle, given its<br />
reputation for nightlife.<br />
But it’s also home to<br />
one of Tokyo’s largest<br />
climbing gyms, Rocky<br />
Climbing & Fitness<br />
Gym, which spreads<br />
over 500 square<br />
metres. Harada trains<br />
there frequently: “I just<br />
practised there today<br />
– it has relatively large<br />
walls and lots of<br />
inclines, which makes<br />
it great for the more<br />
punishing, physical<br />
aspects of training.”<br />
Address:<br />
162-0066 Tokyo,<br />
Shinjuku City, 14-6<br />
Ichigayadaimachi, B1<br />
THE RED BULLETIN 79
Change language