Hello everyone. I'm Tsukui from WAITER-U, a café in Shimokitazawa that operates like a campground. Today, I'd like to talk about the aluminum containers we sell at our shop. When you hear "container," some of you might imagine large 6-foot containers transported by ship, but that's not what I mean. These are small boxes, about 40 liters.
We have three main original products that we sell. There's the custom aluminum container, which I'll introduce today, a backpack, and a tool bag for neatly storing cooking utensils and seasonings used for camp cooking. While the uses for a backpack and tool bag are easy to imagine, I'm often asked, "What exactly is a custom aluminum container?"
In a word, it's a treasure chest. Like the kind of treasure chest you dreamed of as a child – that's the image. What I mean is, you can store all your camping gear, all your so-called "camp gear," inside this box that closes securely with a snap. And when you open this box, it's not just a storage box; it transforms into a table or a makeshift kitchen counter. Calling it a full-fledged kitchen counter at a campsite might be an exaggeration, but it can be used as a surface for cooking.
Hearing this much, those of you who are thinking of starting camping might be even more confused, wondering, "What is that?" Well, that's just how it is. As you get into camping, you start developing strong preferences for your gear. You buy an LED lantern first, then a burner, then firestarters, and something like a pocket torch to light the burner. But the interesting thing about camping, and why it's sometimes called "camp-numa" (camping swamp), is that you don't necessarily stick with what you bought initially.
Even if you think, "This looks useful!" or "This is cool!", you might already have gear for the same purpose, but you buy something new anyway, looking forward to using it on your next camping trip. Just with burners, for example, there are direct-connection types for cassette gas canisters (CB cans) and types where the burner head and canister are separated by a tube. Just that difference can lead to discussions about where to store the canister, whether an integrated type is easier to use, or if a separated type is more convenient. What's convenient changes depending on your camping style and the gear you already own. So, you end up thinking, "Is this one better? Or that one?" and you keep buying and trying out new things. This is why it's called the "camp-numa."
As your gear accumulates, you develop considerable preferences, and you want to gaze at each piece of equipment. Even if you don't use it at that moment, it's not uncommon for campers to own two or three similar knives. It's like having one for display and one for practical use. That's how much gear you accumulate. But accumulating gear isn't a negative; it can be fun. Some people (like me) even enjoy recording their gear in their own way.
That's how you come to the idea that it would be amazing to camp while admiring your favorite gear. The custom aluminum container is the product that makes that dream a reality. It went viral on Instagram a few years ago, and it truly is a dream box. It's filled with all your favorite things, and you can fix them in your preferred positions and admire them. What's more, it's not just about looks; everything has a function. For instance, "I'll attach this LED lantern here so it's easy to take out," or even further, modifying it with additional parts. Just like car enthusiasts customize engines or change mufflers, the custom aluminum container achieves that in the world of camping.
Once you get your hands on one of these containers, I'm sure you'll understand how much fun it is. Even as someone who sells them, it's hard to explain in a single sentence, "What is this?" But for those who get it, it's something so captivating that they can talk about it for an hour, two hours, even three hours, and time just flies by. The custom aluminum container is our flagship product, but I wish I could explain it better. So, as I said at the beginning, if someone asks me, "What is an aluminum container?", the quickest answer is, "It's basically a treasure chest."
This product might be more recommended for those who have experienced camping several times and want to delve deeper into it. However, it's also fun to just buy a container from the start and immediately become particular about your gear. Camping, and the aluminum container, are hobbies where possibilities are endless with just one idea, and I think they're hobbies you can pursue for a lifetime. Today's topic was "What is a custom aluminum container?" See you next time.
