The Climber, the psychological mountaineering masterpiece by Shin'ichi Sakamoto, is currently seeing its biggest year ever for international readers. While the original Japanese run of 17 volumes concluded in 2012, the series has finally reached "completed" status in multiple global markets as of January 2026.

The story follows Buntaro Mori, a solitary young man who finds his life's purpose in the death-defying world of rock climbing. Based on the real-life exploits of mountaineer Buntarō Katō, the manga is world-renowned for its hyper-realistic art and its transition from a traditional sports drama into a haunting, metaphorical exploration of isolation and the human spirit.