The Climber Manga English Edition Guide: Volumes, Release Status & Where to Start
For years, Shin'ichi Sakamoto's The Climber was a manga English readers regularly heard about but could not collect in an official English print edition. That has now changed, with VIZ bringing the series to English-language shelves.
Yes, The Climber now has an official English paperback edition from VIZ Media.
For UK readers, Volumes 1 to 5 are released as of August 2026. Volume 6 is due on 27 August 2026, Volume 7 on 19 November 2026, and Volume 8 is already publisher-listed for February 2027.
Start The Climber in English
Start with The Climber Vol. 1
Volume 1 introduces Buntaro Mori and the first experience that turns climbing from a challenge into an obsession.
View The Climber Vol. 1Track new English manga
The English edition is still being released, so our UK release calendar is useful if you are collecting it as new volumes arrive.
View UK Manga Release CalendarIs The Climber manga officially available in English?
Yes.
VIZ Media launched the official English edition of The Climber in 2025 under its VIZ Signature imprint.
That means UK readers no longer have to rely on unofficial translations to experience Buntaro Mori's story in English print.
The books are larger trade paperbacks rather than the small standard format used for many shonen manga releases.
How many The Climber manga volumes are available in English?
As of August 2026, the UK release has reached Volume 5, with several further books already confirmed by the publisher and distributor.
| English volume | UK status |
|---|---|
| Volumes 1 to 5 | Released |
| Volume 6 | 27 August 2026 |
| Volume 7 | 19 November 2026 |
| Volume 8 | Publisher-listed for 25 February 2027 |
UK readers: release dates can differ from US dates, so make sure you are checking the UK edition schedule rather than assuming a volume released on the same day everywhere.
What is The Climber manga about?
The Climber follows Buntaro Mori, an isolated teenager who struggles to connect with the people around him.
A seemingly reckless climbing challenge introduces him to something that feels completely different from everyday life: solitude, physical danger and the freedom of being alone at height.
That first experience becomes the beginning of an increasingly serious relationship with climbing.
Although climbing is central to the series, The Climber is not simply about winning competitions or becoming the strongest athlete.
It is also interested in isolation, obsession, ambition, identity and what happens when a person begins organising their entire life around the thing that makes them feel most alive.
Is The Climber a sports manga?
Technically, yes. VIZ and its UK distributor classify The Climber within sports manga.
But readers expecting the normal rhythm of a tournament-focused sports series may be surprised.
The climbing itself is important, but the series is heavily character-driven and psychological.
Physical challenge
Training, risk, technique, endurance and extreme environments are a major part of Mori's development.
Psychological drama
The series spends just as much time exploring Mori's relationship with solitude, other people and his own need to climb.
Who created The Climber?
The English edition credits Shin'ichi Sakamoto for its striking artwork, with the work based on the novel by Jiro Nitta.
The earlier part of the manga also carries story credits for Yoshio Nabeta and Hiroshi Takano.
Sakamoto's art is one of the main reasons The Climber developed such a strong reputation among manga readers before an official English edition was available.
What volume of The Climber should you start with?
Volume 1.
The English release starts at the beginning of Mori's story, so there is no complicated reading order and no need to understand anything before opening the first book.
Volume 1 establishes the personality and circumstances that make Mori's first encounter with climbing so important.
Who is The Climber manga best for?
The Climber is particularly worth looking at if you enjoy manga where the character's internal journey matters as much as the external action.
You enjoy mature character drama, psychological manga, striking realistic artwork, obsessive protagonists, seinen storytelling or sports manga that does not feel like a conventional sports series.
VIZ itself recommends titles including Vagabond, Real and Goodnight Punpun to readers interested in The Climber, which gives a useful idea of the sort of audience it may appeal to.
Is now a good time to start collecting The Climber?
For a new English reader, it is a particularly easy time to begin.
The English programme is still relatively young, so you are not arriving to find dozens of older English books already released and waiting to be caught up on.
You can start with Volume 1, work through the books already available and then follow the remaining releases as they arrive.
The Climber English manga FAQs
Is The Climber officially available in English?
Yes. VIZ Media began releasing an official English paperback edition in 2025.
How many The Climber volumes are out in the UK?
As of August 2026, Volumes 1 to 5 have been released in the UK. Volume 6 is scheduled for later in August.
When is The Climber Volume 6 released in the UK?
Simon & Schuster UK lists The Climber Volume 6 for 27 August 2026.
Where should I start The Climber manga?
Start with The Climber Volume 1 and continue numerically through the English releases.
Is The Climber a sports manga?
Yes, but it combines climbing with psychological drama and character-focused storytelling rather than following a typical tournament sports structure.
Start The Climber in English
The official English edition is now underway. Start Buntaro Mori's story with The Climber Volume 1.
View The Climber Vol. 1