Ritsu Kayotani

Ritsu Kayotani
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (2006-04-15) April 15, 2006 (age 20)
Saga, Japan
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Climbing career
Highest grade
Medal record
Men's competition climbing
Representing  Japan
Asian Cup
Gold medal – first placeHong Kong 2025Boulder
World Youth Championships
Gold medal – first placeGuiyang 2024Boulder
Gold medal – first placeSeoul 2023Boulder
Gold medal – first placeDallas 2022Boulder

Ritsu Kayotani (通谷 律 Kayotani Ritsu); born April 15, 2006) is a Japanese professional rock climber, specializing in bouldering and competition climbing.

Youth competitions

Kayotani began competing at IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships in 2022. At age 16, he won the boulder title at the 2022 Youth World Championships. He continued to excel in youth competitions – winning consecutive Youth World Championship bouldering titles in 2023 and 2024.

Climbing career

Competition climbing

Kayotani began competing in senior competitions at age 17, entering the Boulder World Cups in 2023 – consistently making semi-finals. In 2024, he placed sixth at the Boulder World Cup in Innsbruck. In 2025, Kayotani won the gold medal in the men's boulder event at the IFSC Climbing Asian Cup held in Hong Kong.

In January 2026, Kayotani announced that he would step away from competitive climbing to focus on rock climbing.

Bouldering

At age 14, Kayotani sent his first V15 (8C) boulder - Gekirin in Nagasaki, first ascended by Dai Koyamada.

In May and October 2025, Kayotani sent two V16 (8C+) boulders: Nexus in Shiobara and Floatin in Mizugaki.

Rankings

World Cup

Discipline 2023 2024
Boulder 12 8

World Youth Championships

Discipline 2022
Youth A		 2023
Youth A		 2024
Junior
Boulder 1 1 1
Lead 4 - -

Notable ascents

Boulder problems

9A (V17):

  • No One Mourns The Wicked – Thunder Ridge (USA) – October 2026 – Fifth Ascent.

8C+ (V16):

  • Nayuta (那由多) – Gero (JPN) – September 2026 – Third ascent.
  • Tanpopo – Shiobara (JPN) – 17 March 2026 – First ascent.
  • Floatin – Mizugaki (JPN) – October 2025 – Seventh ascent.
  • Nexus – Shiobara (JPN) – May 2025 – Third ascent.

8C (V15):

  • Defying Gravity - South Platte (USA) - October 2026.
  • Flux – Gero (JPN) – May 2026 – Third ascent.
  • Loca – Shiobara (JPN) – May 2026 – Third ascent.
  • Mandoragora – Shiobara (JPN) – April 2026.
  • Sleepwalker - Black Velvet Canyon (USA) – February 2026
  • Gargantua – Mount Hiei (JPN) – December 2025 – Second ascent.
  • Kawaki no umi – Kumamoto (JPN) – December 2025.
  • Tokoyo – Mount Kasagi (JPN) – November 2025 – Fourth ascent.
  • Dendrobium – Shiobara (JPN) – November 2025 – Second ascent.
  • Hydrangea – Shiobara (JPN) – April 2025 – Fifth ascent.
  • Vanitas – Hōrai (JPN) - March 2025.
  • Horizon – Mount Hiei (JPN) – March 2022 – Fifth ascent.
  • Gekirin – Nagasaki (JPN) – February 2021 – Third ascent.

8B+ (V14):

References

  1. 1 2 3 "RITSU KAYOTANI". International Federation of Sport Climbing.
  2. ↑ "Ritsu KAYOTANI". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
  3. ↑ "ボルダリングで通谷律が金　日本勢8個のメダル獲得【クライミング世界ユース選手権2022】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. 26 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "Japan climb to top of standings at IFSC Youth World Championships in Seoul". insidethegames.biz. 28 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "通谷律がボルダー3連覇達成　予選から全課題完登で快挙【クライミングユース世界選手権2024】" (in Japanese). climbers-web.jp. 30 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "A Podium Sweep for Team Japan at Men's Boulder World Cup". Gripped Climbing Magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "JAPAN DOMINATES OPENING ASIAN CUP OF THE SEASON". International Federation of Sport Climbing. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Aこれからは公式大会には出ず、岩に集中して本気でチャレンジしていきます。". Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "通谷律、龍頭泉の逆鱗 五段＋/V15を第3登" (in Japanese). climbing-net.com. 12 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Floatin (8C+) Lee Sung Su and Ritsu Kayotani Repeat Mizugakiyama Testpiece" (in German). kletterszene. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "IFSC Youth World Championships Dallas 2022". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
  12. ↑ "IFSC Youth World Championships Seoul 2023". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
  13. ↑ "IFSC Youth World Championships Guiyang 2024". IFSC Climbing Result Service.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Ritsu Kayotani - Climbing History". Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  15. ↑ "Nayuta". 1 October 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tanpopo". 17 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Loca". 2 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Sleepwalker". 24 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Gargantua". 30 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "Kawaki no umi". 27 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Dendrobium". 9 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "通谷律、比叡山のホライゾン V15に成功" (in Japanese). climbing-net.com. 15 March 2022.
  23. ↑ "Ymir". 1 February 2026.
  24. ↑ "Kage". 22 December 2025.