Shuichi Ohno, Chairman of the Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA) sent me an email about their first test of the Balloon-Tether system that they will be using in their upcoming Space Elevator competition (JSETEC):

Last Monday, our first balloon-tether system experiment took place in Chiba, near Tokyo.  We used a 4.5m diameter helium balloon, 50mm seat-belt tether, battery and a climber.  The Climber successfully climbed tether up to 40m high.  We have received authority to hold the competition.

Next test is with many additional pieces of equipment ( ie. gravity tether tensioner, 3point anchor, more climbers…) and will be held in May.

Ohno-san sent these pictures for us, too.  Click on any of them to view a larger version.