Items labeled as "beta" versions are often considered to be prototypes in the second stage, just one step away from the final commercial product. However, I often find myself thinking that these beta versions, which are still in the process of trial and error, are filled with so much passion and challenge that they might actually hold a stronger appeal than the final product itself. While you rarely see such items in person, Yamatomichi has just delivered some items with "beta" in their name.
[Yamatomichi]
β Merino Coach Shirt Jacket
Color：Navy Check, Gray Check
Price：¥24,000(excl. tax)
Material:100% Merino Wool
Weight:279g – 9.8oz(Size S)
Size:XS / S / M / L / XL
The β Merino Coach Shirt Jacket, meticulously designed for ease of movement and usability, is made from 100% Italian-woven merino wool. It’s a shirt jacket that you can wear comfortably anywhere, whether in the mountains or in the city. While it offers limited insulation, the excellent odor-resistance and moisture-wicking properties inherent to wool make it an ideal choice for active wear.
It features snap buttons for quick opening and closing, and a wide fit. Additionally, it is equipped with a drawcord at the hem to ensure high ventilation inside the garment. Every detail has been honed for usability as active wear, including elasticated cuffs that make it easy to roll up your sleeves.
The sleeves utilize a pivot sleeve design, with wide armholes extending toward the underarms to ensure they don't restrict movement. Large side pockets are also placed along the side seams, making it easy to access your hands or small items.
This β Merino Coach Shirt Jacket can be worn over cut-and-sews or sweatshirts, and as the weather warms up, it works great over just a T-shirt. It’s certainly not intended as a winter cold-weather garment, but after a little time passes, you’ll likely find yourself thinking that you’re truly glad you own one.
Around last summer, I heard about this beta product directly from Yamatomichi’s founder, Mr. Natsume, at an exhibition. It left quite an impression on me to see him speaking about it with such joy, like he was talking about his own child, even while looking slightly embarrassed.
This β Merino Coach Shirt Jacket is a product that expresses Mr. Natsume’s personal desires, even if it slightly deviates from the Yamatomichi concept. While it is certainly a wonderful product, it would be no exaggeration to say that the main reason I decided to carry it at the Circles store was because of that moment with Mr. Natsume.
Beta version products are strictly for in-store sales only, making them one of the few items you cannot purchase through the Yamatomichi web shop. Opportunities to see them in person are rare, so if you are interested, please come visit us at Circles as soon as possible.
By the way, when I hear "beta," the first thing that comes to mind is the Galbaldy β, but it also reminded me of the Betamax format that lost the video format war to VHS. I became curious about the meaning behind the name "beta," so I decided to look it up. (I’m sure this is a story the younger generation won't know. Even our young staff member Yuya barely knows what VHS is. And Shige-chan, in his early 30s, didn't know at all...)
Once upon a time, back when the Yanase family didn't have a video deck, a wealthy friend in the neighborhood owned a Betamax video signal recording device, and I was so envious. Upon researching the name, I found that the "beta" in Betamax apparently originated from the recording method being commonly called the "beta method," the way the tape looked like the Greek letter β when wound, combined with a play on the English word "Better," and the "MAX" for supreme/maximum, resulting in β MAX. I was a little disappointed to find it had no connection to the "beta version" beta, but I muttered to myself that keeping a greedy thirst for knowledge is very important.
Physical recording media have changed dizzyingly from video to DVD and Blu-ray, and in recent years, my home television is filled with nothing but Netflix anime. Given that managing data and recording methods has become so complex lately, perhaps just the fact that I’ve started to find something endearing about writing in a wall calendar or a planner means I’m just getting a bit old. Still, we might be in an era where we are finding value in analog methods again, with the revival of cassette tapes, film cameras, and the renewed attention on vinyl records.
Bicycles are the perfect example; while their transmission methods change with the times—from gear counts and cables to electric shifting—their fundamental structure and concept remain unchanged, and I can't help but think that they are truly an analog means of transportation. And I realized that having some things that never change might actually be a very happy thing indeed.