Yuji Hirayama

About

Saitama-ken, Japan

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Yuji Hirayama, born on February 23, 1969 is a Japanese rock climber who has excelled in most forms of the sport since the mid-1980s. He has won World Cups, climbed up to 9a+, set speed records on El Capitan, onsighted F8c, bouldered 8B+ and opened hard multi-pitch climbs. There aren't enough superlatives to describe this legend.

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Best IFSC Results

This athlete has competed internationally

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Latest News & Articles

News posts and Articles featuring Yuji

The Ticklist #55 Hard Sport Climbing and Japanese Ascents

This week's ticklist is a mixture of hard sport climbing in Europe, with a couple of desperate Japanese ascents thrown in for good measure...

24 Dec, 2021

Fri Night Vid Sawanobori - Climbing Waterfalls in Japan

Our Friday Night Video this week is a trip to Japan to climb the country's highest waterfall: Shomyo Falls in Toyama. Sawanobori is the Japanese art of climbing a mountain river to its source, involving scrambling up gullies, ravines and...

2 5 Apr, 2019

Article Sawanobori - James Pearson on Climbing Waterfalls in Japan

On Wednesday 20th March, UKC hosted The North Face Speaker Series 'Sawanobori' film launch, featuring TNF athletes James Pearson, Caroline Ciavaldini, Matty Hong, Yuji Hirayama and Toru Nakajima. These athletes weren't climbing rock...

34 1 Apr, 2019

Newsflash Nesscliffe E8s for Ciavaldini, Hirayama & Pearson

Yuji Hirayama, Caroline Ciavaldini and James Pearson have headed North to Nesscliffe, where they...

2 10 Sep, 2014

Newsflash Yuji Hirayama Climbs The Big Issue, E9

Top Japanese climber, Yuji Hirayama is currently in the UK and has just climbed John Dunne's steep Pembroke...

2 8 Sep, 2014

Fri Night Vid Yuji Hirayama in Turkey

In this short film we see top climber Yuji Hirayama climb what is possibly Turkey's hardest route, Devers Royal,...

5 7 May, 2010

News 6th ascent of the Cobra crack by Yuji

2 16 Sep, 2009

News Yuji Hirayama-F9a First Ascent At 40

4 30 Apr, 2009

News Hans and Yuji Break The Nose Record AGAIN: 2:37:05

24 13 Oct, 2008

News Hans and Yuji Break The Nose Record

14 2 Jul, 2008

News
Yuji Hirayama onsights an 8c!

38 7 Oct, 2004

News
Yuji Hirayama repeats Golden Gate

14 Oct, 2003

News
Yuji Hirayama flying in Yosemite

30 Sep, 2002

News
Legrand and Hirayama go American.. into injury

28 Jun, 2001

News
Hirayama repeats 5.14d (=F9a?)

22 May, 2001

Videos

Trad climbing

Sawanobori - Climbing Waterfalls in Japan

In August 2018, a handful of The North Face climbers travelled into the spectacular Japanese wilderness to dive into the realm of ‘Sawanobori’ - the revered art of scaling mountain streams, despite Mother Nature doing all she can to push them back. Powering through conditions that rendered traditional climbing shoes completely useless, this was unlike any adventure the team had done before.

Latest Reviews for Yuji's Sponsors

Reviews from the UKC editorial team

The North Face Casaval Hoodie

This lightly insulated hoody is sold as a mountaineering jacket - and it's great for that, says Rob Greenwood; but it's a lot more besides. In the last few months he's barely taken it off...

3 28 Mar

If it Ain't Broke - Gear that Goes On and On

In these days of growing environmental concern and shrinking budgets, we can't all be constantly buying brand gear. There's a lot to be said for making do with the stuff we already own. To celebrate our loyalty to much-loved and trusty bits of...

46 14 Nov, 2022

Beal Phantom Harness

Whilst it's pitched as a lightweight harness for high level sport climbing, the Phantom isn't actually mega-light by modern standards. But what you get instead is a great all rounder, says Rob Greenwood, with a clean and functional design that makes it ideal for both...

4 May, 2021

The North Face Summit L5 LT FUTURELIGHT Jacket and Trousers

In a campaign that challenges us to "Defy the past: Wear the future" The North Face's FUTURELIGHT...

2 3 Mar, 2020

Bombproof Winter Mountain Shells

What's the ideal shell for Scottish winter climbing and gnarly hill walks? A beefy and protective one! Here we review tough...

28 25 Feb, 2020

The North Face Summit L5 Ultralight Storm Jacket & Summit L1 Climb Trousers

John McKenna tries this combination of a light shell jacket and softshell trousers...

2 9 Aug, 2019

Lightweight Sport Climbing Harnesses

For a dedicated sport climbing harness you will want something light, comfortable and fairly simple. In this group test...

17 30 Apr, 2019

Latest News from Yuji's Sponsors

Announcements direct from manufacturers

Beal EXPRESSO double lanyard

The first double lanyard as light and compact as a single one The Expresso is a double lanyard designed to lighten climber equipment. It allows you to anchor yourself and to rappel down / abseil thanks to its Dyneema sling sewn on the lanyard.

4 Jul

The New Women's Himalayan suit

The North Face introduces a Himalayan suit designed and developed by women for women.

3 28 Mar

Yonder's 'It's a Spring Thing' event in London on Saturday 25th March

Join The North Face athletes and explorers Alex Honnold (by live link), Molly Thompson-Smith, Toby Roberts, Xian Goh, Rotimi and photographer Sam Pratt for a series of workshops and talks at Yonder's It's a Spring...

24 Mar