The video will be available on 5 September, 4pm (BST) HERE.

The production showcases the team tackling the Kamikochi, Yarigatake, and Hotaka Circuit – the same routes once walked by Banryu, the monk known as the “father of Japanese alpinism". The 60-kilometer journey across knife-edge ridgelines and 3,000-meter peaks culminated in a fastest-known-time (FKT) attempt on Mt. Yake-dake, the only active volcano among the Japanese Alps.

UK-based producer and photographer Jake Baggaley, who had visited Japan previously and dreamed of this project for years, assembled the international team. “When I’m shooting in places like this, I always want to work with local teams and be a part of the culture and community,” Jake explains. The team included Japanese road running athlete Aoi Chan, trail runner and cameraman Yusuke Tannaka, UK mountain guide Sam Hill, and adventure filmmaker Matt Green. Despite language barriers, the team discovered that shared mountain experiences transcend cultural differences.

The expedition traced paths established by Banryu, who completed the first ascent of Mt. Yarigatake in 1828 and initiated construction of the iron chains and ladders to assist the climbers who would come after him. Overall, they covered over 3,800 vertical meters, including the technical Daikiretto Ridge traverse – a dramatic, exposed section connecting Mt. Yarigatake and Mt. Hotaka-dake via steep, spine-like ridges with sheer 1,000-meter drops. The FKT attempt on Mt. Yake-dake proved highly successful, with Aoi reaching the summit a full 30 minutes faster than her predicted time.

Jake’s main goal was for the trip to be a meaningful exchange of cultures. “I wanted to learn about the Japanese mountain traditions through the athletes we were travelling with and experience the hut culture along the way,” he explains.

“In the Footsteps of Banryu” was shot over five days in September 2024, starting and ending in the car-free mountain town of Kamikochi, known as “the Chamonix of Japan.” The production combines stunning alpine cinematography with authentic storytelling. It will be available HERE on 5 September, 4pm (BST).