We will be hosting a POP UP for TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK on 6/6–7.
I had been aware of the brand’s existence for some time.
I knew they were participating in events, and I had seen their products on social media.
However, the first time I actually got to handle the products and speak with Mr. Yamamoto was at last year’s GENTLE HIKER STAND.
What first sparked my interest was a very simple reason: the Hip Bags and Messenger Bags on display at the event booth looked great.
I knew it was a UL (Ultralight) hiking brand, but at the time, I wasn't just interested in the materials or functionality; I was drawn to the look of them.
I recall being intrigued by the character of the bags themselves, as well as the items Mr. Yamamoto was using personally and the overall atmosphere of the display.
When you hear the name TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK, it’s easy to assume it comes from Mount Takao.
Actually, I thought that too.
However, the name is derived from the designer and maker himself, Takao Yamamoto.
It’s a simple fact once you know it, but I feel that unpretentious quality is very characteristic of this brand.
TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK is a brand with roots in UL hiking culture.
However, I personally feel that just calling it a "UL brand" doesn't quite tell the whole story.
The beauty of this brand lies not only in the lightness or the materials, but in its origins and the way it is crafted.
Mr. Yamamoto started hiking around 2018.
His interest in the world of UL hiking was sparked when he felt that the pack he bought from a retail store was too heavy.
But at the time, it was difficult to get your hands on products from popular brands.
You couldn't buy what you wanted even if you tried.
Everything was either via lottery or had no release date.
In that situation, he thought, "Well then, I'll just make them myself," and that was the beginning of the brand.
Having worked in the apparel industry for a long time, he bought his own fabric, sat at a sewing machine, and started making backpacks.
He bought products from various brands, used them on the trail, and refined his designs.
And once he made something he was satisfied with, he moved on to making a Hip Bag.
That was when he started getting feedback from friends and people around him, and the demand for his products slowly began to grow.
And that is how TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK began.
It didn't start with the intention of creating a brand from the get-go.
It evolved into a brand as a result of him constantly making the things he wanted for himself.
Even now, Mr. Yamamoto continues his work in the apparel industry while managing TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK from his home/atelier.
On his days off, he goes to the mountains, exhibits at events, and produces the products he’s been commissioned to make.
Orders received at events are apparently brought to life one by one, working side-by-side with his wife.
That might sound exhausting, but Mr. Yamamoto says he doesn't find the production process difficult at all.
In fact, he genuinely enjoys the process of conceptualizing what he wants and bringing it to life.
Perhaps that is why you can feel the presence of the creator in TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK products.
Even today, wholesale distribution is very limited, and he is not aggressively pursuing e-commerce sales.
He visits events, talks with customers, accepts orders, and builds the products.
If efficiency were the only goal, there would surely be other ways to do things, but this is the style he continues to maintain.
That is precisely why there are surprisingly few opportunities to see TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK products in person, even if you are interested in them.
In that sense, this POP UP is a rare opportunity.
When you look at TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK products in person, that philosophy is clearly reflected in the products themselves.
And one of the products that best embodies this approach is the signature Hip Bag.
Mr. Yamamoto himself is a sweaty person and was bothered by the heat build-up on his back when wearing a backpack.
Additionally, he was inspired by vintage hip bags.
Born from that background, the Hip Bag is quite different from the image of a typical hip bag.
It has the capacity to hold the gear needed for hiking while offering a high level of integration with the body.
Though the bag was born for the mountains, it fits just as naturally into cycling, travel, and everyday movement.
That freedom is also, I believe, very representative of this brand.
While it began as a UL hiking brand, it does not stop only at the mountains.
Whether for travel, the city, or cycling.
It naturally weaves itself into various types of movement.
That is why I believe our customers here at Circles will find it interesting, too.
At this upcoming POP UP, you will be able to see and touch TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK products for yourself.
Furthermore, Mr. Yamamoto, the designer and maker, will be present at the shop on the day.
There are things you can't learn just by looking at the products—like why they are shaped this way or why these specific materials were chosen.
I hope you will take the opportunity to see them for yourself and learn the stories behind them.
I haven't fully broken mine in yet myself, but that’s exactly why I would love for you to get a feel for Mr. Yamamoto’s philosophy and products.
Tomei POP UP TOUR Vol.16
TAKAO MOUNTAIN BOOK POP UP STORE[Nagoya Date]
6/6 (Sat) – 6/7 (Sun) / 10:00~19:00 @Circles
[Tokyo Date]
6/13 (Sat) – 6/14 (Sun) / 11:00~20:00 @Circles TOKYO