[Encouragement of Climbing] Introducing mountaineering veteran, Saito Kaede!

2025.07.29

"Encouragement of Mountain" is a story about cute girls who become mountain girls and enjoy mountain climbing. While the main theme is mountain climbing, "Encouragement of Mountain" has become a popular anime because the stories about everyday life outside of mountain climbing are also cute and charming. Here we introduce Saito Kaede, a senior to Aoi and her friends who is knowledgeable about mountains.

Contents

[Encouragement of Climb] Saito Kaede's Basic Character

Kaede is a stylish girl with glasses

Kaede's Story
Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede has always been known for her beautiful figure and has long been considered a beautiful girl. Kaede is 164cm tall and boasts large breasts, ranging from F to G cups, even among the main characters of "Encouragement of Climb," many of whom have childlike figures.

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede has typical black hair and dark eyes, but her trademark is undoubtedly her glasses. She's an intelligent character who looks good in glasses, and is a reliable senior with extensive mountain climbing knowledge.

Kaede is a senior by one year at the high school Aoi and her friends attend.

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede is a senior by one year at the high school Aoi and her friends attend, and is a mountain girl who loves mountain climbing. She has a bright and kind personality, and a mature charm that makes it hard to believe she's only one year older than Aoi.

Kaede is Aoi's advisor

Source: Encouragement of Mountains © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Mountains Season 3" Production Committee

Kaede is knowledgeable about mountains and has a kind personality, making her a good confidant for Aoi, who can be shy and timid. He is also known for saying things like, "You can't do something because you think you can't. Most things will work out if you just try," and he is a great senior who encourages Aoi.

[Encouragement of Climb] The Encounter Between Saito Kaede and Yukimura Aoi

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede and the main character, Aoi, first met when Kaede was struggling to choose a sleeping bag at an outdoor shop. Kaede, struggling to decide between an expensive, high-performance sleeping bag and a cheap, heavy one, asked Aoi, who was nearby, for advice.

Source: Encouragement of Mountain Climbing © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Mountain Climbing Season 3 Production Committee

However, Aoi, who only had beginner-level knowledge of mountain climbing, was at a loss for words, and that's where their friendship began.

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee

Though unsure of how to respond, Aoi, who somehow seemed to think Kaede wanted an expensive sleeping bag, uttered a famous line: "Rather than giving up and regretting, wouldn't it be better to not give up and regret?" Kaede later thanked her.

[Encouragement of Climbing] Saito Kaede's Famous Quotes on Mountain Climbing

Source: Encouragement of Climbing © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climbing Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede has many famous quotes about mountain climbing throughout the series, so I'd like to share some of them with you. This is a famous quote that Aoi said when she climbed Mt. Mitsutoge, her first serious mountain climbing experience, and she was exhausted and not enjoying it at all.

Source: Encouragement of Climbing Mountain © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climbing Mountain Season 3 Production Committee

"Mountain climbing is like a marathon. If you go too fast, you'll quickly get tired. So, keep your pace! If you get tired, take a break! Then climb slowly!"

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee

She also showed her kindness by giving Aoi chocolate and even lending her her folding walking sticks. She also gave her advice to walk with shorter strides.

[Encouragement of Climb] Kaede's Famous Quote to Aoi Before Climbing Mount Fuji

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Season 3" Production Committee

Aoi was excited to climb Mount Fuji, but when it came time to do so, she became nervous and anxious. So, Aoi decides to call her reliable senior, Kaede, for advice. Kaede kindly answers Aoi's call, and

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb" "Third Season" Production Committee

"I used to climb difficult mountains, too, and I would often fail and get completely worn out. I'd think, 'No way! I'm never going again!' But then, I always wanted to go again." "I think that's because I made the decision, took on the challenge, and achieved it myself."

Source: Encouragement of Climbing Mountain © Shiro/Earth Star Entertainment/Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee

After hearing Kaede's wonderful words, Aoi was inspired and changed her mindset, thinking, "Let's just move forward for now. I'll think about it after I hit the wall." This allowed her to once again become positive about climbing Mount Fuji.

[Encouragement of Climb] Kaede's Kindness on Mount Fuji

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

At Mount Fuji, the protagonist Aoi unexpectedly collapses due to altitude sickness, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted.

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Season 3 Production Committee

Meanwhile, Kaede, wanting Hinata and Kokona to at least reach the summit, showed her kindness by encouraging them to reach the summit of Mount Fuji and offering to take care of Aoi, who was suffering from altitude sickness.

[Encouragement of Climb] Teach Me!! Kaede-san Corner

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede's knowledge of mountains is on a par with that of an adult mountaineer, so she frequently shares her mountain and mountaineering knowledge in her own "Teach Me!! Kaede-san Corner" segment.

Source: Encouragement of Mountain Climbing © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Mountain Climbing Third Season" Production Committee

This is a great segment that provides easy-to-understand explanations even for beginners who are unfamiliar with mountains and mountain climbing, and teaches very educational knowledge. I found it particularly useful to learn that the temperature drops by about 0.6 degrees for every 100 meters you ascend in the mountains.

[Encouragement of Climb] Saito Kaede's voice actor is Yoko Hikasa

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Saito Kaede's voice actor is Yoko Hikasa, who has appeared in "K-ON!" The voice actress is Hikasa Yoko, who played the role of Akiyama Mio in "Love Live! School Idol Festival" and Pitohui (Kanzaki Elsa) in "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online."

Hikasa is skilled at voicing relatively high-energy, abnormal characters, and she was totally into it in "Pitouy."

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee

She already had a strong sense of abnormality when she played Yukikoji Nobara in Inu x Boku SS (Inu x Boku Secret Service), but in Pitohui, her abnormality has been further refined.

[Encouragement of Climb] Saito Kaede Summary

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / "Encouragement of Climb Third Season" Production Committee

Kaede is Aoi and her friends' senior, a kind and reliable senior with extensive mountain climbing knowledge. Starting in the second season, she has had more opportunities to shine, such as accompanying them on serious mountain climbing trips.

Source: Encouragement of Climb © Shiro / Earth Star Entertainment / Encouragement of Climb Third Season Production Committee

The third season will likely see a new development with the addition of a new character, Honoka Kurosaki, so Kaede's mountaineering knowledge is sure to explode as she scales the new mountain. I'm looking forward to seeing her in action again in the third season.