Teton Bros. x People - Takuya Kitano - Part 2

We walk in harmony with nature and create products and a future with colleagues who share our values.

Teton Bros. develops products in the field with professional colleagues active in Japan and around the world. How do the many "people" who have come together under the name of "Teton" - the Teton Brothers - interact with nature and build their lives? This is how we create a chemical reaction between Teton Bros. and people.

Takuya Kitano is the owner of Sky High Mountain Works, an outdoor shop in Ashiya, Hyogo, and is deeply involved in planning Teton Bros.' mountain running collection.

In the second part, we talk about his connection with Teton Bros. and the source of the curiosity that drives him.
[Part 2 of 2 / Part 1 here]

The inspiration behind the Teton Bros. Mountain Running Collection

--Teton Bros. has items like scrambling pants that seem to be directly linked to Kitano's way of playing, but how did your connection with the brand begin?

About 10 years ago, Nori, the CEO of Teton Bros., came to our store. We talked about all sorts of things, from games to products, but at the time Teton Bros. mainly sold winter wear like Tsurugi jackets and TB jackets, and I thought that the climate might not be suitable for selling them in a place like ours.

However, I thought the product was great in terms of its fine details and functionality, and I would say things like, "I'd personally like to use it in the backcountry," but it didn't really lead to any business.

-What was the trigger that led you to become involved in product development after that?

After that, Nori-san would stop by my house whenever he came to Western Japan, and we gradually began to have deep conversations. At the time, I was in the midst of exploring and deepening my scrambling rock faces around the Kansai region, so we talked about that as well.

Also, at the time, trail running was all the rage as a race, but I thought running through rocks, streams, bushwhacking, and mountaineering was fun, and I was promoting that, and Nori became interested in that.
"I'd be interested in running within that mountain theme."

So we thought, "Instead of sportswear, why not incorporate Kitano's ideas into our products and develop something related to the recreational activity of mountain running?"
So we decided to create clothing that was a little less insulating than our previous products and could be used in the warm climate of western Japan.

Mount Rokko, located on the Pacific coast, is warm even in winter, so clothing with too much heat retention is rarely useful.

--So that's how the mountain running collection was born.

The name of the series was quickly decided upon as "Mountain Running Collection," and then we thought, "Since Mt. Rokko and the Kansai area have many mountains with an altitude of around 1,000m, how about Elevation 1000?" and the name ELV1000 came to mind.

I came up with the idea and created the products together with Nori, and the first product was the scrambling pants. The reason behind naming the product "Scrambling" was because I wanted to spread the culture of scrambling in Japan and increase the number of people who enjoy the same sport.

These scrambling shorts have undergone numerous model changes. I ran up the rocky mountain wearing the latest shop-exclusive model.

Polishing products through field testing

--Then, little by little, the number of items increased.

First came the long scrambling pants, then the scrambling shorts, then the matching t-shirts, then the sleeveless version for a faster, more comfortable run, and now the softshell version... and so on, the mountain running collection has grown in size and variety to suit the spring and summer seasons.

Even though I say the number has increased, I can't actually make things myself, so I communicate my ideas and thoughts based on my mountain experience to Nori, who then thinks about them and makes them.By repeating this process, the number of products has increased.

He met with the Teton Bros team to discuss product planning. His ideas based on his own experiences are incorporated into the products.

-Do you actively conduct field tests on the products you are involved in?

I have a mountain behind my house that's perfect for testing, so I use them all the time in the mountains. I also use them all the time, not just in the mountains, but in my everyday life, when I'm in the store, around town, etc. As a result, I sit down, lift my feet, and the product is constantly under stress, so I make sure to point out any concerns I have, such as, "The stitching here is weak."

Also, in climbing there is a style called crack climbing, where you put your hands, feet, or even your body into cracks in the rock to climb, and this reveals further areas where the product needs improvement, such as areas that need reinforcement.

Through daily field tests, we are able to proactively make suggestions such as, "Let's reinforce this part like this," or "It needs a little more durability, so why don't we look for a new material?"

They use it hard, rubbing their bodies and clothing against rocks on a daily basis.

--Once you've made repeated improvements and the product is more complete, does the feedback end?

Even if you think it's the strongest and most complete at that point, the situation can change rapidly.
Specifically, new fabrics and materials are constantly emerging, so there is no end to the ideas we have about how to use them, and what would happen if we used fabrics in the right places and in the right ways.

As long as I can move, I want to keep going out into the field and playing, which will also help me create good products, so I want to keep working hard to improve my products while also continuing to improve my own play. Just like in the store, I think that constantly changing and evolving is what it means to be "alive."

Keep searching

--Kitano-san is energetic in both work and play, but is there something that gives you a source of passion?

I think traveling is important to me, so I visit many places both in Japan and overseas. Seeing nature in unfamiliar worlds through travel changes the way I see nature as I have seen it up until now.

Returning from a trip and entering my own mountains again changes my perspective, and even in the rock gardens of Mount Rokko, which I thought I had thoroughly enjoyed, I suddenly come across virgin rock formations and valleys that no one has ever touched before. I make new discoveries one after another, not just in Rokko but in various other mountains, and I think, "mountains are amazing after all."

You only think you've mastered something at that moment, but by changing your perspective, you realize there's still more you can explore.

Even on the familiar Mount Rokko, there are still many rocks that have yet to be climbed. Every day, he works to explore new bouldering routes.

Also, I think everyone has their own local mountain, but to get to know that place more deeply, it's important to go to other mountain ranges and compare them.

When you go to other mountains, you see more things and it leads to deeper exploration. By getting to know other places, such as rocky areas, streams, and snowy backcountry, you can see scenery and routes that you hadn't seen before.

That's why I believe that constantly searching and seeking out the unknown is an important part of my outdoor life, and I want to continue doing so.

Takuya Kitano
Born in Tokyo in 1972. Owner of Sky High Mountain Works, an outdoor shop in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. He enjoys all types of outdoor activities, including mountain climbing, mountain running, climbing, and backcountry snowboarding, and shares a variety of information on his blog and social media. He was involved in the launch of Teton Bros.' mountain running collection and is currently involved in planning and supervising it.

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