Ritsu Kayotani
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| Nationality | Japanese | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 15, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ritsu Kayotani (通谷 律 Kayotani Ritsu); born April 15, 2006) is a Japanese professional rock climber, specializing in bouldering and competition climbing.[1]
Youth competitions
Kayotani began competing at IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships in 2022.[2] At age 16, he won the boulder title at the 2022 Youth World Championships.[3] He continued to excel in youth competitions – winning consecutive Youth World Championship bouldering titles in 2023 and 2024.[4][5]
Climbing career
Competition climbing
Kayotani began competing in senior competitions at age 17, entering the Boulder World Cups in 2023 – consistently making semi-finals.[1] In 2024, he placed sixth at the Boulder World Cup in Innsbruck.[6] In 2025, Kayotani won the gold medal in the men's boulder event at the IFSC Climbing Asian Cup held in Hong Kong.[7]
In January 2026, Kayotani announced that he would step away from competitive climbing to focus on rock climbing.[8]
Bouldering
At age 14, Kayotani sent his first V15 (8C) boulder - Gekirin in Nagasaki, first ascended by Dai Koyamada.[9]
In May and October 2025, Kayotani sent two V16 (8C+) boulders: Nexus in Shiobara and Floatin in Mizugaki.[10]
Rankings
| Discipline[1] | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 12 | 8 |
| Discipline | 2022 Youth A[11] |
2023 Youth A[12] |
2024 Junior[13] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lead | 4 | - | - |
Notable ascents
8C+ (V16):
8C (V15):
- Gargantua – Mount Hiei (JPN) – December 2025 – Second ascent.[15]
- Kawaki no umi – Kumamoto (JPN) – December 2025.[16]
- Tokoyo – Mount Kasagi (JPN) – November 2025 – Fourth ascent.[14]
- Dendrobium – Shiobara (JPN) – November 2025 – Second ascent.[17]
- Hydrangea – Shiobara (JPN) – April 2025 – Fifth ascent.[14]
- Vanitas – Hōrai (JPN) - March 2025.[14]
- Horizon – Mount Hiei (JPN) – March 2022 – Fifth ascent.[18]
- Gekirin – Nagasaki (JPN) – February 2021 – Third ascent.[14]
8B+ (V14):
- Ymir – Shiobara (JPN) – February 2026.[19]
- Kage – Shikoku (JPN) – December 2025.[20]
- Hōtō – Mizugaki (JPN) – December 2025.[14]
- Emotion – Mount Kasagi (JPN) – November 2025.[14]
- Gakidō – Chigobutai (JPN) – September 2025.[14]
- Phenomena - Hinokage (JPN) - December 2024 - Third ascent.[14]
- Bailout – Hinokage (JPN) – December 2024 – Second ascent.[14]
- Revival – Nagasaki (JPN) – April 2023 – FA.[14]
References
- ^ a b c "RITSU KAYOTANI". International Federation of Sport Climbing.
- ^ "Ritsu KAYOTANI". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
- ^ "ボルダリングで通谷律が金 日本勢8個のメダル獲得【クライミング世界ユース選手権2022】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. 26 August 2022.
- ^ "Japan climb to top of standings at IFSC Youth World Championships in Seoul". insidethegames.biz. 28 August 2023.
- ^ "通谷律がボルダー3連覇達成 予選から全課題完登で快挙【クライミングユース世界選手権2024】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. 30 August 2024.
- ^ "A Podium Sweep for Team Japan at Men's Boulder World Cup". Gripped Climbing Magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ "JAPAN DOMINATES OPENING ASIAN CUP OF THE SEASON". International Federation of Sport Climbing. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ "Aこれからは公式大会には出ず、岩に集中して本気でチャレンジしていきます。". Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "通谷律、龍頭泉の逆鱗 五段＋/V15を第3登" (in Japanese). climbing-net.com. 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Floatin (8C+) Lee Sung Su and Ritsu Kayotani Repeat Mizugakiyama Testpiece" (in German). kletterszene. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ "IFSC Youth World Championships Dallas 2022". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
- ^ "IFSC Youth World Championships Seoul 2023". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
- ^ "IFSC Youth World Championships Guiyang 2024". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ritsu Kayotani - Climbing History". Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ "Gargantua". 30 December 2025.
- ^ "Kawaki no umi". 27 December 2025.
- ^ "Dendrobium". 9 November 2025.
- ^ "通谷律、比叡山のホライゾン V15に成功" (in Japanese). climbing-net.com. 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Ymir". 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Kage". 22 December 2025.
External links
- Ritsu Kayotani at the International Federation of Sport Climbing
- JMSCA profile (in Japanese)