Shinya Fukazawa

Yamanoi is a climber who has taken on massive cliffs across the world by himself. In 2021, he received the Piolets d'Or Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor in the climbing world. But Yamanoi's journey is far from over. Through interviews with his wife Taeko, we shed light on the turbulent life of a man captivated by a 'vertical world'.

Journey through Japan's Yatsugatake mountain range, spanning Nagano and Yamanashi, alongside renowned mountain photographer Tetsuo Kikuchi. Captured by filmmakers devoted to the mountains, the film presents breathtaking imagery and an intimate portrait of the koyaban-mountain lodge keepers whose quiet yet powerful lives leave a lasting impression. Shaped by nature and guided by a rhythm beyond human control, the koyaban's voices quietly resonate with us, reflecting on how we live today.