At the end of January 2019, I arrived in Portland, USA, via Vancouver, Canada, in a small propeller plane to carry out my mission in the United States.

The reason I chose Portland is because it is home to the headquarters of many companies (Columbia, Nike, Pendleton, Keen, and many others), so I came to check out its charm.

First of all, one of the members who accompanied us this time had connections with Mr. SMITH, a giant in the ski and snowboard industry, and we were able to successfully infiltrate his office in Portland.

The ceilings are high and the spaces are separated by department, making it a very comfortable working environment.

When I visited, in the meeting room, they were using Pantone to match prototypes of helmet colors for the year after next!? From the very first day, I learned about the adult field trip, the attitude towards manufacturing, and the unforgettable spirit of playfulness. I learned a lot.

And we've collaborated with Portland's Pendleton twice before. This is a recommended spot where the general public can enter and purchase items.

The store has a wonderful display that tells the story of its history.

I discovered the fabric used in the hat we collaborated on this time! It was sold by the yard.

Snow Peak, a proud Japanese outdoor manufacturer, also has a store in New York and another here in Portland.

I was reminded of how popular Snow Peak is in the United States.

And apparently another Japanese brand, "mont-bell," will be opening soon!

On the first night in America, I somehow ended up having Mongolian food. lol It was a so-called self-cooked yakisoba (you arrange your own ingredients and seasonings) that the chef cooked on this huge iron plate. It was my first experience. It was delicious.

to be continued