Iwa-Kakeru! Climbing Girls

Iwa-Kakeru!

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Manga, Anime
Founded	December 5, 2017 (2017-12-05)
Founder	Ryūdai Ishizaka
Products	Manga, Anime adaptation

is a Japanese manga series authored by Ryūdai Ishizaka. Its chapters were initially published digitally on Cygames' Cycomi manga platform and website between December 2017 and May 2019, later compiled into four volumes by Kodansha and Shogakukan. Following this, a sequel titled Iwa-Kakeru!! Try a new climbing appeared on Cycomi from June 2019 until March 2021, with Shogakukan releasing six collected volumes. The series was adapted into an anime named Iwa-Kakeru! Sport Climbing Girls, produced by Blade, which aired from October through December 2020.

Plot

Konomi Kasahara, a freshman at Hanamiya Girls' High School renowned for her puzzle-solving abilities, encounters the school's climbing wall and decides to join the Climbing Club, setting her life on a new trajectory.

Hanamiya Girls' High School

A first-year student skilled in puzzle games who applies her keen analytical mind to climbing, earning nicknames such as "Mother Eye" and "Murder Observation."

A member of the Climbing Club with prior middle school experience; her blunt demeanor limits friendships and discourages newcomers.

The president of the Climbing Club, recognized as the "Princess of Lead."

A club participant whose remarkable flexibility allows her to reach challenging holds.

Kurikawa High School

A second-year standout called the "Climbing Spider" due to her height and extended reach.

A second-year student known as "Muscle Maxima'am" for her impressive muscular power.

A first-year who excels in data analysis to enhance competition tactics, earning the nickname "Lackey Data Climber."

St. Catalano Girls

A second-year team ace nicknamed "Black Panther" for her explosive strength and jumping skill.

A second-year climber admired for her supportive nature, dubbed the "Crimson Stormtrooper" because of her fiery style and team spirit.

A first-year known as the "Ballerina of Rock" for her poise and balance; despite being rivals with Konomi, she secretly holds admiration for her.

Kokureikan High School

The widely popular first-year ace at Kokureikan High, referred to as the "Princess of Climbing" for her competitive prowess.

A second-year student who provides strong support to Anne.

A specialist in speed climbing influenced by rhythm games, affectionately calls Konomi "Puzzle-chan."

Matsubase High School

A persistent second-year nicknamed "Zombie Niijima" for her relentless determination to climb higher with every attempt.

A first-year known as the "novice killer," characterized by cat-themed speech and a penchant for challenging newcomers.

Other characters

An expert in outdoor climbing holding several records.

An outdoor climber motivated by her father Jūzō, active since childhood.

A competitive climber working at a climbing shop, recognized as the "Shoemeister."

Manga

The manga Iwa-Kakeru! Climbing Girls, created by Ryūdai Ishizaka, was serialized on Cygames' Cycomi manga app and website from December 5, 2017, through May 18, 2019. Its sequel, Iwa-Kakeru!! Try a new climbing, continued serialization on Cycomi from June 8, 2019, until March 20, 2021.

Anime

On April 24, 2020, the announcement was made for the anime series Iwa-Kakeru! Sport Climbing Girls. The animation was produced by Blade and directed by Tetsurō Amino, with series composition handled by Touko Machida. Character designs were created by Yoshihiro Watanabe, while the musical score was composed by Tsubasa Ito. The show aired from October 4 to December 20, 2020, on ABC and TV Asahi under their newly launched Animazing!!! programming block. The opening theme, "Motto Takaku" ("Even Higher"), was performed by Aina Suzuki, and the ending theme "LET'S CLIMB↑" was sung by Sumire Uesaka, Yui Ishikawa, Aina Suzuki, and Miyu Tomita in their respective character roles. Crunchyroll provided streaming access to the series across regions such as North America, Europe, and CIS countries. In South and Southeast Asia, licensing rights were secured by Medialink.

Episodes

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Stage play

A theatrical adaptation featuring members of the idol group AKB48 was staged at Tokyo's Sunshine Theatre from February 17 through February 20, 2022.

Previews

The initial episode of the anime received mixed reactions during the Fall 2020 preview screenings. James Beckett expressed disappointment over the unexciting depiction of rock climbing, describing the characters as merely "functional" and criticizing the animation quality as "terribly cheap," which failed to effectively portray athleticism. Nicholas Dupree regarded it as a "decent ambassador" for sport climbing but pointed out weak character development and subpar production values, including unattractive climbing scenes. Theron Martin and Rebecca Silverman both appreciated the strong muscular character designs and Konomi’s strategic approach to climbing challenges but noted limitations in animation quality and camera angles that bordered on suggestive; Silverman also found Jun’s demeanor off-putting. Caitlin Moore disliked the provocative camera work and questioned the characters’ believability but remained engaged with the thematic focus, concluding that although not outstanding, it served a particular niche.

Series

In her 2021 review of the complete series, Moore assigned a C+ grade, highlighting the thorough rock climbing details and vibrant, consistent animation style. However, she criticized unrealistic portrayals of safety measures, irritating supporting characters, and fan service elements that detracted from the athletes’ credibility. Ultimately, she described it as an average anime unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Tim Jones and Stig Høgset from THEM Anime Reviews were notably critical of its poor execution, clichéd rivalries, unearned triumphs for Konomi, neglect of other club members’ development, and an abrupt conclusion to the tournament arc. They summarized that the series’ potential unraveled with the introduction of announcers combined with weak animation and underdeveloped side characters.

See also

• Love Flops, an anime adaptation featuring manga artwork by Ryūdai Ishizaka