Climbing for Life

Climbing for Life (てっぺんの向こうにあなたがいる) is a 2025 Japanese biographical film directed by Junji Sakamoto about the life of Junko Tabei. Starring Sayuri Yoshinaga as Tabei, it chronicles her historic 1975 ascent of Mount Everest, making her the first woman to do so, and follows her life as a pioneering mountaineer. It is based on her essay Life, With its Ups and Downs.^[1][2]

Climbing for Life
Theatrical release poster
Japanese	てっぺんの向こうにあなたがいる
Literally	You are there, beyond the top
Directed by	Junji Sakamoto
Screenplay by	Riko Sakaguchi
Based on	Life With its Ups and Downs by Junko Tabei
Produced by	Rioko Tominaga
Starring	Sayuri Yoshinaga Rena Nōnen Ryuya Wakaba Asuka Kudo
Cinematography	Norimichi Kasamatsu
Edited by	Shinichi Fushima
Music by	Goro Yasukawa
Production company	Kino Films
Distributed by	Kino Films
Release dates	September 19, 2025 (2025-09-19) (Zinemaldia) October 31, 2025 (2025-10-31) (Japan)
Running time	123 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

It had its premiere on September 19, 2025 in the Special Screening section of the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival.^[3]

The film will also open the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 27, 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her Everest achievement.^[4][5]

Cast

Sayuri Yoshinaga

• Sayuri Yoshinaga as Junko Tabe, based on Junko Tabei
  • Rena Nōnen as young Junko Tabe
• Ryuya Wakaba as Shintaro Tabe
• Kōichi Satō as Masaaki Tabe
  • Asuka Kudo as young Masaaki Tabe
• Fumino Kimura as Norie Tabe
• Wan Marui as Hiroe Iwata
• Wako Ando as Risako Shimizu
• Chisato Nakai as Kaoruko Maruyama
• Misa Wada as Ryoko Arai
• Yūki Amami as Etsuko Kitayama
  • Mizuki Kayashima as young Etsuko

Production

Principal photography commenced on August 18, 2024, in diverse locations across Japan—including all six Kanto prefectures, along with Nagano, Yamanashi, Fukushima, and Toyama. It was shot in snow-covered mountain regions, amid blizzard conditions.^[6] It was wrapped up in November 2024.^[7]

Release

Climbing for Life had its premiere at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 19 September 2025.^[8] It will also be presented in Spotlight on Japan section of the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival on October 17, 2025.^[9]

The film will open the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 27, 2025,^[10] and Asian Film Festival Barcelona, on October 29, 2025.^[11]

The film is scheduled for release on October 31, 2025 in Japanese theatres by Kino Films.^[12][13]