"Encouragement of Mountain" is a story about cute girls who become mountain girls and go mountain climbing. Although the main theme is mountain climbing, the anime also shines a spotlight on everyday human drama, making it a heartwarming and enjoyable work. Here we introduce Kuragami Hinata, a childhood friend of the main character, Yukimura Aoi, and who could be considered the second main character.
【Encouragement of Climb】Kuragami Hinata's Basic Character
Hinata's Appearance
Hinata is a super energetic girl
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata's personality is more distinctive than her appearance, and she is the most energetic and energetic character in Encouragement of Climb. In stark contrast to the rather quiet Aoi, if Aoi is the moon, Hinata is like the sun.
[Encouragement of Climb] Hinata reunites with Aoi in high school
Hinata remembers Aoi
A Childhood Promise
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi was a more proactive girl in elementary school, even more active than Hinata. Aoi once climbed a mountain and saw a beautiful sunrise, so she promised Hinata to come back and watch the sunrise on the same mountain. However, Aoi had completely forgotten about that promise.
Hinata forcefully invites Aoi, who has become quite shy.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Season 3" Production Committee
Aoi, who was once very active, fell on a jungle gym and was rushed to the hospital. However, after that, she developed a fear of heights and became completely indoorsy. Conversely, Hinata has become more active and forcefully invites the shy Aoi to go to the mountains.
Hinata Speaks Her Mind
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi, who has become afraid of heights and has become an indoor hobbyist, tries to turn down Hinata's invitation. However, Hinata said some nasty things to Aoi like, "If you don't socialize well, you won't be able to make friends," and "You'll never get a boyfriend, you have dark hobbies!", dragging Aoi along at her own pace.
Hinata's power of unrequited love is incredible!!
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi had completely forgotten about Hinata, but Hinata could never forget her "promise" and continued to think about her for several years.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata had always intended to watch the sunrise with Aoi on the "Promised Mountain" once she became a high school student, and she even kept telling her father that she would climb the mountain with Aoi when she became a high school student. Even though she hadn't seen Aoi for several whole years, her unrequited love is truly admirable.
Hinata, surprisingly good at reading the mood, gave up on Aoi, but...
Source: Encouragement of Climbing © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climbing Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata realized that Aoi had completely forgotten about her over the past few years, and sensed that she was not very positive about mountain climbing. So, Aoi said, "Thank you. I'll go to the mountains with Dad," and gave up on going to the mountains with her.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
However, Aoi remembered her promise to Hinata and replied, "As long as it's not too high, I guess I'll go to the mountains." Hinata was happy to hear this, and from that day onwards, Oai and Hinata began their friendship.
[Encouragement of Climb] Hinata Always Leads Aoi
Hinata Leads Aoi in Everything
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee
Aoi is shy and not the type to take the initiative, so Hinata often pushes her forward.
Source: Encouragement of Climbing © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climbing Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata is usually the one who comes up with interesting events, and she's also the one who suggests things like, "Let's have a cooking competition!" It's also Hinata who pushes Aoi, who was hesitant to buy the necessary mountain climbing gear for financial reasons, to get the hang of it. Thanks to Hinata, Aoi was able to get the right mountain climbing gear.
Hinata is a pretty reliable character
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata has an image of being a person who charges ahead without thinking, but in reality she is surprisingly reliable, and when climbing mountains, she often climbs at her own pace.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
When Aoi and I went to Mount Takao together, Aoi, who had so many places she wanted to visit, hurried up the mountain, but Hinata gave her a word of advice: "Don't rush." As expected, Aoi got exhausted halfway up, so Hinata was right.
A surprise for Aoi!
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Season 3" Production Committee
To please Aoi, Hinata, Kokona, and Kaede planned a mountain climb with Aoi, a mountain with a view of Mount Fuji, which Aoi had been interested in. Hinata's charm lies in her ability to take the initiative and take leadership roles in everything she does.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
However, the mountain chosen as a surprise, Mitsutoge, turned out to be much more difficult to climb than Aoi had imagined, and for a moment, the pain outweighed the enjoyment, preventing her from fully enjoying herself. Aoi overcame this with Kaede's support, but Hinata seemed a little worried about it.
Hinata's reaction when they met again at Mt. Tenran
Source: Encouragement of Climbing © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climbing Season 3" Production Committee
After suffering from altitude sickness on Mt. Fuji, Aoi became reluctant to climb mountains and spent her days feeling listless. However, after seeing a postcard of Hinata and Kokona reaching the top of Mount Fuji, I felt a little more positive and decided to climb Mount Tenran for the first time in a long while.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
There, Aoi happens to meet Hinata, and, drawn by Hinata's cheerfulness, they decide to climb the mountain that follows. Hinata, who helped Aoi's spirit become a little more positive and encouraged her to move forward even further, can now be considered a second protagonist.
Hinata helped Aoi overcome her fear of heights!
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi, Hinata, Kokona, and Kaede finally make it to the "promised mountain," Mount Tanigawa. However, for Aoi, who is afraid of heights, the mountain is hellish, requiring a ropeway and a chairlift to reach the tree line.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi's entire body froze in front of the ropeway, unable to move. But Hinata thought, "Aoi won't stop here. She'll keep moving forward!" and took Aoi's hand, saying, "Come on! Let's go!" and urged her to the ropeway.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Aoi continued to be afraid of the ropeway, but Hinata continued to encourage her, saying, "Do your best!" Aoi was happy to have overcome the ropeway, but the second obstacle, the lift, was not high, but there was no barrier to block it, so she became afraid again.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
However, Hinata forced Aoi onto the lift, encouraging her when she cried out in fear, "It's high!", "Don't worry, it's not that high," and supporting her with the strong determination that "Together, we can overcome these difficulties."
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee
In the end, Aoi seems to have conquered the ropeway and chairlift on Mount Tanigawa, as in the following third season, she rides the ropeway back from Mount Tsukuba without any fear.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee
Hinata is always the one who pushes Aoi beyond her limits, and she's a good friend who plays the role of forcing Aoi to break through them.
[Encouragement of Climb] Hinata Kuragami's voice actress is Kana Asumi
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee
Hinata Kuragami's voice actress is Kana Asumi, who also appeared in "Haiyore! This is Kana Asumi, the voice actress for Nyaruko in "Nyaruko-san" and Taneshima Popura in "WORKING!!"
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee
Asumi excels at voicing relatively bright and energetic characters. Asumi apparently had a complex about her voice, but her distinctive, lively voice was put to good use in her voice acting career, resulting in the creation of adorable characters like Nyaruko and Popura.
[Encouragement of Climb] Kuragami Hinata Summary
The protagonist of "Encouragement of Climb," Aoi Yukimura, is a rather shy and reserved character (although in reality she's quite cheerful), while Hinata is a lively and completely cheerful character.
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee
While Hinata is more of a mountain girl, the two characters, who are quite different, enjoy their daily lives together, making this an anime that's also worth watching. I'm looking forward to seeing them in action again in the third season.
