Encouragement of Climb

Encouragement of Climb (ヤマノススメ) is a slice-of-life manga series written and illustrated by Shiro, which began serialization in Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star magazine in 2011. An anime television series by Eight Bit aired in Japan between January and March 2013 and was simulcasted by Crunchyroll. A second season aired from July to December 2014. An original video animation was released in October 2017, and a third season aired from July to September 2018. A new anime television series titled Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit aired from October to December 2022.

Plot
Aoi Yukimura is a quiet girl living in Hannō who prefers staying indoors and is afraid of heights. When she reunites with her childhood friend Hinata Kuraue, who is outgoing and loves mountaineering they decide to climb a mountain together, in order to see sunrise, which they saw together when they were younger. Along the way, they meet several other girls who are also interested in the outdoors, and begin a series of adventures on various mountains across Japan.

Characters

 * Aoi Yukimura (雪村 あおい)
 * A high school girl who became afraid of heights after falling off a playground structure and breaking her leg. Thanks to Hinata's influence, she begins to take an interest in mountain climbing.
 * A high school girl who became afraid of heights after falling off a playground structure and breaking her leg. Thanks to Hinata's influence, she begins to take an interest in mountain climbing.


 * Hinata Kuraue (倉上 ひなた)
 * A hyperactive girl who loves mountains. She was friends with Aoi in elementary school before reuniting with her in high school. She encourages Aoi to conquer her fear of heights and take up mountain climbing.
 * A hyperactive girl who loves mountains. She was friends with Aoi in elementary school before reuniting with her in high school. She encourages Aoi to conquer her fear of heights and take up mountain climbing.


 * Kaede Saitō (斎藤 楓)
 * A senior student in Aoi's high school who loves mountain climbing. She befriended Aoi when they met in an equipment store.
 * A senior student in Aoi's high school who loves mountain climbing. She befriended Aoi when they met in an equipment store.


 * Kokona Aoba (青羽 ここな)
 * A middle school student Aoi and Hinata met and befriended on a mountain trail.
 * A middle school student Aoi and Hinata met and befriended on a mountain trail.


 * Honoka Kurosaki (黒崎 ほのか)
 * A young photographer who Aoi meets while climbing Mount Tanigawa. She is a middle school student who is one grade above Kokona, and goes to a local high school in Takasaki.
 * A young photographer who Aoi meets while climbing Mount Tanigawa. She is a middle school student who is one grade above Kokona, and goes to a local high school in Takasaki.


 * Yuuka Sasahara (笹原 ゆうか)
 * Kaede's classmate during both middle school and high school. She often worries about Kaede's safety whenever she goes climbing.
 * Kaede's classmate during both middle school and high school. She often worries about Kaede's safety whenever she goes climbing.


 * Koharu Senjuin (千手院 小春)
 * The president of the Mountaineering Club in Aoi's high school. Kaede and Yuuka's classmate.
 * The president of the Mountaineering Club in Aoi's high school. Kaede and Yuuka's classmate.


 * Mio (みお)
 * Aoi's classmate, and sometimes talks to Aoi because she cares about her isolation.
 * Aoi's classmate, and sometimes talks to Aoi because she cares about her isolation.


 * Yuri (ゆり)
 * One of Aoi's classmates.
 * One of Aoi's classmates.


 * Kasumi Takenaka (竹中 かすみ)
 * Aoi's classmate and has been in the same class since middle school, but has never been able to talk to her.
 * Aoi's classmate and has been in the same class since middle school, but has never been able to talk to her.


 * Makoto Yukimura (雪村 誠)
 * Aoi's father.
 * Aoi's father.


 * Megumi Yukimura (雪村 恵)
 * Aoi's mother.
 * Aoi's mother.


 * Ken'ichi Kuraue (倉上 健一)
 * Hinata's father, an experienced mountain climber who took Aoi and Hinata to climb Mount Tanigawa when they were younger.
 * Hinata's father, an experienced mountain climber who took Aoi and Hinata to climb Mount Tanigawa when they were younger.


 * Mai Kuraue (倉上 舞)
 * Hinata's mother.
 * Hinata's mother.


 * Mai Aoba (青羽 麻衣)
 * Kokona's mother.
 * Kokona's mother.


 * Taiki Kurosaki (黒崎 大樹)
 * Honoka's older brother.
 * Honoka's older brother.


 * Susuki (すすき)
 * The manager of the cake shop "Susuki", where Aoi works part-time.
 * The manager of the cake shop "Susuki", where Aoi works part-time.


 * Hikari Onozuka (小野塚 ひかり)
 * An energetic college student who works part time at a cake shop alongside Aoi.
 * An energetic college student who works part time at a cake shop alongside Aoi.

Manga
Yama no Susume began as a manga series written and illustrated by Shiro and published in Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star magazine. The first chapter appeared in the September 2011 issue of the magazine, released on August 12, 2011. The series' chapters have been compiled in 24 volumes, published between June 12, 2012, and December 13, 2023.

Anime
An anime television series, directed by Yusuke Yamamoto and produced by Eight Bit, aired in Japan on Tokyo MX between January 3 and March 21, 2013, and was simulcasted by Crunchyroll. The ending theme is "Staccato Days" (スタッカート・デイズ) by Yuka Iguchi and Kana Asumi. The series consisted of twelve five-minute episodes, with an additional OVA episode bundled with the Blu-ray Disc release of the series on May 14, 2013.

A second season, consisting of 24 fifteen-minute episodes, began airing from July 9, 2014. The opening theme is "Natsuiro Present" (夏色プレゼント) by Iguchi, Asumi, Yōko Hikasa and Yui Ogura, "Mainichi Koharu Biyori" (毎日コハルビヨリ) by Iguchi, Asumi for episode sixteen onwards; whilst the ending themes are "Tinkling Smile" by Ogura for the first twelve episodes, "Staccato Days" for episodes thirteen to fifteen, and "Cocoiro Rainbow" by Kyoko Narumi for episode sixteen onwards.

An original video animation, subtitled ''Omoide Present (おもいでプレゼント), was released on January 26, 2018, following a screening in theaters and a limited release on October 28, 2017. For the OVA, the ending theme is "Omoide Creators" (おもいでクリエイターズ) by Iguchi and Asumi.

A third anime season premiered on July 2, 2018 and ran for 13 episodes, concluding on September 24, 2018. For the third season, the opening theme is "Chiheisen Stride" (地平線ストライド) by Iguchi, Asumi, Hikasa, and Ogura, while the ending theme is "Irochigai no Tsubasa" (色違いの翼) by Iguchi and Asumi.

On September 16, 2019, a new project was announced during an Autumn Festival in Japan. On March 18, 2021, it was announced that the project would be a new anime television series, titled Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit (ヤマノススメ Next Summit). It consisted of 12 full-length episodes, and the main staff and cast members reprised their roles from previous seasons. The series aired from October 5 to December 21, 2022. The opening theme is "Omoi Nochi Hare" (想いのち晴れ) by Iguchi and Asumi, while the ending theme for the first 11 episodes is "Tobira wo Akete Beru o Narasou" (扉を開けてベルを鳴らそう) by Iguchi and Asumi, the ending theme for episodes 12 is "Staccato Days" by Iguchi and Asumi.