The Climber, Vol. 5

孤高の人 [Kokō no Hito] #9-10

by Shin'ichi Sakamoto (Illustrator), Jirō Nitta (Creator), Yoshio Nabeta

Tragedy in the northern Japanese Alps leaves Mori reeling, but despite the devastating experience, his love of climbing remains undimmed. His ability to handle other people has suffered, though, and it takes an incredible job offer to finally draw him back down into civilization. There, he finds everything just as terrible as he left it. Will his new hopes for the future get snagged on the relentlessness of reality?

Genres: Manga, Sports

416 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Sakamoto Shin'ichi (坂本眞一) is a Japanese mangaka.
He is mostly famous for his series Innocent and Innocent Rouge.
He is currently working on #DRCL midnight children based on the classic by Bram Stoker.

Reviews

[Thomass G.R. Bürger · Rating 4 out of 5]

HE'SSSSS BAAAAAACK! Now things will start really getting interesting. I don't know why but there's something about Mori that is truly compelling. His strange battle between wanting to be alone while also NEEDING human connection. It's almost as if he's fighting against his own natural instincts and basic human needs.

When I started this series, I thought I had been spoiled by alot, but the more I read, the more this story is profound. It really is an internal battle.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time skip allows new life to be breathed in. A reintroduction of a previous female character had me believing the author had outgrown his one dimensional negative idea of women. Then, a couple pages later, carried on as he has been. Disappointing, but fascinating. Only this volume, have I started seeing the elements of the story which the author must be transmitting. That’s what makes this story so compelling along with the art, while simultaneously holding its issues.

[Micah Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad to see miyamoto back but the vibes him and Yumi are giving doesnt seem very genuine. it almost seems they have some underlying motives. Also whats with that baby jus showing up in mori apartment. i don’t understand why everyone seems to pick mori’s apartment, he doesnt even have anything in there lol

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit slower paced but I feel like it is necessary. Seeing Mori actually getting a job that is fitting for him was really cool. The home front though was a little weird. Why do people always have to use and abuse Mori? To me he seems like a good guy even as a loner but they treat him like crap. Then with Mitamoto showing back up I feel like there is something suspicious about it all.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular!

[Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Rocco · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Brownie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐