Set against the backdrop of the very real 1985 crash of JAL flight 123, this film tells the story of a Japanese journalist (Shin'ichi Tsutsumi) who must strike a balance between duty and ethics as he struggles to get the true story out to the world. Ultimately, "Climber's High" is both a nuts-and-bolts film about newspaper reporting and a gripping, gritty tale of dignity in the face of overwhelming human tragedy and loss.