Once upon a time, there was a monk who lived in a cave in the Japanese Alps. He climbed peaks, establishing hiking routes, and made many of the region’s first ascents. Banryu Shonin is the Father of Japanese Alpinism. He died in 1840, leaving a legacy that largely defined the nation’s relationship with its mountains. In 2025, four athletes followed in his footsteps — at a full sprint.
The RAB film In the Footsteps of Banryu follows athletes Jake Baggaley, Aoi Chan, Yusuke Tannaka, and Sam Hill as they attempt to fast pack a route known as the Kamikochi, Yarigatake, and Hotaka Circuit. This path, following knife-edge ridges and climbing jagged peaks, was once walked by Banryu himself. This project has been Baggaley’s dream for years, and when he finally pulled it together, he brought a film crew.
Baggaley, Chan, Tannaka, and Hill’s route is considered one of the hardest hikes in all of Japan. And these athletes aren’t just hiking or even speed walking. They’re charging the trail at a full-on sprint. In the Footsteps of Banryu is a beautiful short film that’s so good it leaves you wishing for more.
Runtime: 10:05
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