Milestone will be releasing a new insulation (hoody and pants) this fall. The product name is Heatwave Titanium Hoody & Pants. As you can probably guess from the name, it is a very light and warm piece of cold weather gear. To photograph this new product, we decided to shoot in Hokkaido, which is likely to be the coolest place in Japan at this time of year.

Before that, I arrived a little while ago and visited "EZO", which is being held in Sapporo.

I was met at the entrance by Ryotaro from RawLow Mountain Works, the organizer, and was given such luxurious treatment that he showed me around the venue. Many of my acquaintances were exhibiting at their booths. Among them were Jaki-san (aka Jaki-nii) and Ayumi-chan from Jindaiji Mountain Works (JMW), who had a booth at the back of the venue. Our booths were next to each other at OMM, so perhaps because I felt like I had become very close, we once again had a lively conversation and decided to have dinner together. I left the planning to Jaki-nii. He then came to pick me up at my hotel and took me to a popular local conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

We had a lively discussion about hip hop music here, and it was a great time. Let's talk about it over a drink next time! The next morning was our first fishing session.

The conversations both in the field and on the road were fascinating. It was a very valuable and enjoyable experience, like listening to a podcast.

Then we headed to our destination, Niseko. Our model for this trip was Mako-chan from STRIDE LAB NISEKO.

In fact, this is the same person who helped us out with the "Onion Hoody" music video we shot three years ago. We decided to shoot right away!? But instead, we were guided to a nearby river by the shop and started off with a fishing session.

Mako-chan is a Tenkara angler. His skill is evident in the size and number of fish he caught. He really felt the great potential of Hokkaido.

I also caught my first fish that was nearly 1cm long, but I got too excited and lost it while taking photos. After that, I changed the spot and caught a big one, but it got away right at my feet, a huge blunder. This is definitely a case for revenge. Haha. And then, I had the opportunity to participate in an early morning running session presented by STRIDE LAB NISEKO.

There were about 40 participants! It was a diverse group run, from children to adults, foreigners to dogs. It felt great to be able to run and talk with so many people.

Before going to pick up the director at New Chitose Airport, an old friend contacted me and told me that he was showing me around a property near Lake Toya that was under construction and featured a sauna that could be rented out.

As someone who has only been to Sapporo, Otaru, and Niseko up until now, I was able to see a different side of Hokkaido.

It's a really nice space. It's supposed to open within the year, so I'll definitely be going back.

Unfortunately, the outdoor shop "ZERODAY" was closed.

Afterwards, we were also taken to Showa Shinzan in Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

Because it is a volcano, it seems that snow never accumulates here, even in the depths of winter.

That was a very long introduction, but finally, we met up with the director and began filming. Unfortunately, it rained the whole time, but somehow they managed to capture some winter-like shots!?

Finally, we went to Jamii, a famous soup curry restaurant in front of Niseko Station. Not only was the food delicious, but the sound system was also excellent. Apparently KEYCO will be there on September 2nd.

Thank you to Mako-chan, Izumi-san, and the director for your cooperation in filming for three days, from early morning until late at night. We are looking forward to seeing the twins grow up. See you next time! Please look forward to the finished video.

This was the first time I had planned a trip with a slightly more relaxed schedule. Thanks to that, I was able to connect with many different people and have conversations that will lead to future projects, making it a very productive trip. Thank you to everyone who helped me out on site.