Today's book. This is the ninth in this series. This time it's "Bokura no Outdoor Zukan" (Our Outdoor Encyclopedia) by Kiyoshiro Takahashi, who worked for many years at the outdoor shop WILD1.
I bought this book at WILD1 in Odaiba. It's fun just to look through it, like an encyclopedia, with illustrations of things Takahashi-san encountered during his outdoor life and memorable anecdotes.
The items featured are mainly those acquired from the Showa to Heisei eras, so they are not things you would find in stores today, in the Reiwa era. For those in the know, they might bring back nostalgic memories, and for those like me who started camping during the pandemic, they are full of new discoveries.
It also introduces items from when Snow Peak was still written in all caps as SNOWPEAK.
I looked it up, and Snow Peak was founded in 1958.
The longevity of things
There's a saying that all material things eventually break, but in my experience, things that don't break, don't break, and things that don't get lost, stick with their owners no matter what. I believe there are quite a few things that embody a spirit of perseverance, even if they get lost, they manage to be found again.
Don't old cars and houses give you a sense of comfort just by being in them?
Just as children who receive abundant parental love grow up to be kind adults, things that have been cherished by their owners for a long time seem to repay that kindness across generations.
Thoughts on nature and tools
I believe that everyone has their own way of engaging with and enjoying nature.
It's perfectly fine for some to enjoy bushcraft, for others to enjoy building a bonfire by starting a fire with a fire starter and nurturing it, and for still others to use a burner to light a fire and enjoy it with a stylish fire pit.
There are now many convenient and wonderful tools, and it's fine to use them. It's also fine for some to believe that being a camper means using only natural materials like wood and stones to cleverly make do, or to enjoy unexpected accidents.
I hope your outdoor life is wonderful today too.
