A couple of years ago, after he had made his now legendary visit to the Peak district where he stunned the gritstone community by repeating and making first ascents of some very bold lines, I made an interview with Toru Nakajima.

His ticklist that time included climbs like

Meshuga, E9 6c, Black rocks, climbed in a slight drizzle
Nocturnal emission, E9 6c
Black out, E9 6c, Burbage south, first ascent, solo
Simba's pride, E8 6b, Burbage south, solo
Elm street, E8 6c, Millstone, solo
Brad Pitt, 7C+, Stanage, Flash

He was 15.

The following year, at 16, he skipped school and returned for a brief visit to Cornwall, where he, again, impressed the local community by making some rare and bold repeats.

Climbing this kind of routes at such a young age must surely mean he had been practicing it back home since he was, well... even younger? Japan must then be an Eldorado for British trad climbers, no?

After his latest visit to the UK, we didn't hear much about Toru. I noticed he had done an 8c+, then a ~9a+, but I didn't know any details. Then, this early autumn, he was suddenly in Colorado for a short visit. The conditions weren't good and in the beginning Toru suffered from altitude sicknes, but this didn't stop him from quickly repeating problems as hard as 8B+.

I decided it was time to ask the now 19 year old some questions again:

What is it that attracts you to climbing? What does it give you? Does this change over time you think?
My favorite style is bouldering now. But I love everything that have a relation to free climbing.
I try some new trad route and boulders in Japan. Climbing gives me many things, joy, thrill, impressions, and friends. They have not changed since I started climbing.

Rumors have it you have been trying the slab to the right of Bansosha, ~8B+, at Ogawayama, which is said to be much harder. Can you tell me anything about it? Maybe you have done it already?
There are two problems to the right of Bansosha, Kakusei and Huminsho. These problems are harder than Bansosha. I did Huminsho when I was 15 years old. I think Bansosha is V13 [8B) and Huminsho is V14 [8B+], and Kakusei is harder. No one has been able to make a third ascent of Huminsho or second ascent of Kakusei. Tokio Muroi made the first ascents of both of them

I also heard you repeated Flat mountain, 9a, one of the hardest routes in Japan. Can you tell me something about the routes you have done and want to do in the future?
Flat Mountain was first climbed by Yuji Hirayama in 2003, and he graded it 9a/+. It is a 30m beautiful limestone face. The lower section of the route is 5.12c [7b+], and the crux is a V12 [8A+] including an impressive dead-point, from a two-finger under-cling to a sloper.
The upper section is around V7 [7B]. I tried it more than 10days. I don't know how hard it is, but I heard that Sachi Amma said it is harder than Papichulo, 9a+, at Oliana, Spain.
I am not so interested in hard sport route because, there is no good rock where I can put up new routes in Japan.

I saw on facebook, you are very close on Asagimadara, which you say is around ~8C/+! Who made the first ascent of this one?
The first ascent of Asagimadara was made by Tokio Muroi who is one of the strongest climbers in Japan. He doesn't use crashpads and he has also made first ascents of some hard trad in Japan.

Have you put up any bold climbs in Japan?
I have not done any hard bold climbs in Japan yet, but I am trying a very hard bold climb now.

Do you ever get scared while climbing?
When I fell from the upper section of Ulysses' Bow [on an onsight attempt], I thought my backbone was broken. My backbone escaped unhurt. I was lucky.

In the last interview I made with you, you mentioned climbers in Japan are generally more focused on competition climbing than climbing outside. Would you say this is a trend that has continued?
I think that trend has continued. But the population of climbers who enjoy climbing outside is increasing. Free climbing has become more popular in Japan, and some young strong climbers who prefer climbing outside has been appearing.

You used to compete successfully yourself Is this something you are still interested in?
I am not so interested in competition climbing. I would much rather climb on rock around the world than participate in a World Cup.

How do you train?
Mainly, I train at a bouldering gym. I make hard problems and try them. I don't do anything special. I think the important thing is not only to climb a lot, but also to try problems that have a special factor for me. I look for my weak point while working on problems, and make problem which are hard for me. Since I am not a competition climber, I think my style is good for me.

I guess you are still an unknown name to most climbers in Europe or the US. What is it like in Japan?
Maybe I am known in Japan. But I am not known well because I don't participate in competitions frequently. And I live in a rural area where there are not so many chances to meet climbers who live in city.

Last time we talked, you didn't have any sponsors. What is it like now?
I am supported by The North Face.