Keita Watabe

Keita Watabe
Watabe at the 2018 IFSC Climbing World Championships
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (1993-08-30) August 30, 1993 (age 33)
Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
Climbing career
Competition bouldering
Medal record
Men's competition climbing
Representing  Japan
World Cup (Event)
Gold medal – first placeNanjing 2017Boulder
Bronze medal – third placeHachioji 2017Boulder
Bronze medal – third placeMeiringen 2017Boulder
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place2018Boulder
Bronze medal – third place2017Boulder
Asian Cup
Silver medal – second placeManila 2022Boulder

Keita Watabe (渡部 桂太 Watabe Keita, born August 30, 1993) is a Japanese professional rock climber, specializing in competition bouldering.

Competition climbing

Watabe began climbing on the IFSC Climbing World Cup circuit in 2015.

In 2017, Watabe reached the boulder final at the IFSC World Cup in Meiringen, winning a bronze medal in his first World Cup final.

At the 2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup in Nanjing, he won his first gold in an IFSC World Cup, followed by a bronze medal at the Hachioji World Cup later in May.

At the 2017 Asian Championships in Tehran, Watabe placed third in the boulder discipline, completing the all-Japanese podium behind compatriots Kokoro Fujii and Yoshiyuki Ogata.

In 2018, Watabe advanced to the final at the 2018 IFSC Climbing World Championships, finishing fourth in the boulder discipline. He won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Championships held in Kurayoshi later in November.

In 2019, Watabe won the silver medal at the 2019 World Beach Games.

In 2022, he placed second at the Asian Cup in Manila.

Rankings

World Cup

Discipline 2017
Boulder 4

World Championships

Discipline Innsbruck
2018
Boulder 4

Japan Cup

Discipline 2015 2016 2017
Boulder 2 5 2

Notable ascents

Boulder problems

8B+ (V14):

  • The Globalist – Sipoo (FIN) – October 2025 – Fifth ascent.
  • Circus Elephant Syndrome – Sipoo (FIN) – October 2025 – Third ascent.

References

  1. 1 2 "KEITA WATABE". International Federation of Sport Climbing. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Keita WATABE". IFSC Climbing Result Service. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "IFSC Climbing Worldcup (B) - Meiringen (SUI) 2017". Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "IFSC Boulder World Cup: Nanjing - Report". UKClimbing. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "IFSC Boulder World Cup: Hachioji - Report". UKClimbing. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Asian Continental Championships - Tehran (IRI) 2017 Boulder Results". Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "原田海、新たな世界王者に！／IFSCクライミング世界選手権2018【男子ボルダリング】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "楢崎明智、伊藤ふたばが国際大会初優勝！／アジア選手権倉吉2018【ボルダリング】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Results Book
  10. ↑ "ASIAN CUP (B) - MANILA (PHI) 2022 GENERAL RESULT M E N BOULDERING".
  11. ↑ "第10回ボルダリングジャパンカップ" (in Japanese). Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "第11回ボルダリングジャパンカップ" (in Japanese). Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "第12回ボルダリングジャパンカップ" (in Japanese). Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Keita Watabe - Climbing History". Retrieved 2 December 2025.