Monday arrived swiftly, marking the end of the weekend and the beginning of another week of classes. After today’s lessons, we headed to Akashi Park, where a lively celebration was underway for the Emperor’s Birthday, a national holiday in Japan. The park was bustling with craft stalls, an abundance of succulents for sale, and live music filling the air. Despite the occasional snow and hail, the atmosphere remained vibrant and cheerful.

As I wandered through the park with my schoolmates and teachers, I indulged in various treats: a spiral potato, steamed clams, and some roasted chestnuts. The festive environment provided a delightful backdrop for our afternoon.

Evening Climbing Session

After returning to my hostel, I prepared for an evening climbing session. I arrived at the climbing gym around 4 p.m. and began my warm-up routine. Not long after, I noticed someone working on a slab problem that had previously challenged me. We both struggled at the same section—a reachy move that others seemed to handle with ease. After numerous attempts, we struck up a conversation about the problem’s difficulty, brainstorming micro-beta adjustments to improve our chances. With persistence, I managed to stick the move and complete the climb. My new acquaintance was determined to conquer it as well but, unfortunately, couldn’t piece it together.

He introduced me to some of his friends who were engaged in a fun endurance challenge. The objective was to start on the easiest problem on a wall and progressively tackle harder routes until falling. The rules were straightforward: after each successful climb, advance by one difficulty level and downclimb to the starting point using any holds. This was especially demanding on the slab wall, where precision is key. I managed to reach the blue level, or level 5.

Afterward, I suggested we try some no-hands climbing on the easiest routes, aiming to reach the finish hold without using our hands. They excelled at this, successfully completing several problems. While I didn’t top any, it was an entertaining and valuable skill-building exercise. Once we’d exhausted the existing problems, I devised a no-hands traverse to keep the practice going. One climber mastered it quickly. Time flew by, and before we knew it, the gym was closing.

A Return to the Onsen

Following the climbing session, I returned to the onsen, hoping to retrieve the smartwatch I had accidentally left behind the previous day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t at the front desk. I plan to check again tomorrow before considering purchasing a replacement. Losing it is disappointing, as I was quite fond of that watch. If necessary, I’ll likely opt for the same model again.