Tools have always evolved alongside 'democratization.' That is why, in the end, they return to their essence.

The photo in the thumbnail is a Japanese weevil I encountered on Mount Hakusan, a sacred peak I climbed the other day. I apologize if you find it creepy.

I like looking at insect field guides, so I felt like I had known this insect for a long time. However, it was the first time in my life I had seen one in person.

It's strange, isn't it?

And as I looked at this small insect, I thought about something.

Perhaps evolution is not about 'addition.'

Oh, onto the main topic.

In the past, mountaineering was not a hobby that everyone could enjoy.

In 19th-century Europe, Alpine climbing and polar expeditions were only possible with the support of nobility or the state.

In Japan, too, for a while after the war, activities centered around university mountaineering clubs were the mainstream, and since mountaineering required both time and money, it was a hobby for people in somewhat privileged environments.

(Come to think of it, I passed many university mountaineering clubs on Mount Hakusan the other day. Everyone was carrying huge packs of about 80 liters, which was amazing.)

However, as time went on, people working in small factories and those without special educational backgrounds or family status also
'We are going to the mountains too!'
entered an era where they could say that.

The mountaineering population increased,
a market was born,
many manufacturers entered the field,
and mountaineering gear gradually became accessible to the general public.

This trend is very similar to the UL (Ultralight) culture.

Perhaps it started as a small culture like MYOG (Make Your Own Gear), where people made what they needed themselves,
the number of people who resonated with that philosophy increased,
a market was born as expected,
and eventually, manufacturers gave it shape as commercial products.

I think this flow is somewhat common in every era
and in every field.

When a market matures, people move toward
'more convenience,'
'higher performance,'
'and more multi-functionality.'

However, strangely enough, those who have truly used the tools extensively beyond that point begin to turn in the opposite direction.

'What is it that I really need?'

In that way, what begins from there is
not addition, but 'subtraction.'

The other day, I listened to Tomoya Tsuchiya of Bikers Depot on YouTube, and this way of thinking really resonated with me.

(Wow, it is truly wonderful that we can easily access such great information in this day and age. Mr. Tsuchiya. I knew his name from books and such, but being able to see him in a video was very educational, and he is a person with a wonderful way of thinking.)

Culture democratizes,
and when a market matures,
it competes on complexity at least once.

But beyond that maturity,
people return to the 'essence' once again.

I deeply resonated with these words.

I felt that the EVERNEW BLUENOTE stove was a symbol of this.

This stove does not have high heat output,
nor is it an all-purpose stove that can do everything.

There was only one goal.

To boil 300ml of water with 15ml of alcohol.

We have thoroughly refined this single point.
With 300ml, you can eat a Cup Noodle.
You can also rehydrate alpha rice.
Add another 15ml, and you can brew coffee too.

In other words, with just 30ml of fuel, a rich time at the summit is complete.

This is not about 'cutting performance,' but rather,
as I heard the development story behind the BLUENOTE ⁺stove, I was excited and thought, 'This is amazing! It is the result of sharpening the purpose.'

Until now, I used to
carry a SOTO Windmaster and a 110g OD canister in my summit pack when heading to the peak.

Even so, it is light enough, and of course, it is a wonderful tool.

But if the only goal is to boil 300ml of water once at the summit, I felt that its performance was a bit over-specced.

The BLUENOTE ⁺stove packs only that role
into a surprisingly small system.

They say this is not weight reduction, but 'optimization.'
(I had just been researching Apple's M1 chip, so the word 'optimization' really struck a chord with me.)

And this concept of 'optimization'
also applies to the Trail Companion I want to create.

The goal is not to increase storage.
The goal is not to increase functions either.

It is so that people walking in the mountains can carry only what they truly need and walk without unnecessary hesitation.

I want to find the necessary and sufficient form for that purpose.

I believe that is the essence of tool-making.

To tell the truth, this way of thinking also applies to money.
I previously wrote an article about debt and self-investment.

To be honest, I was scared to take on debt.
But I also thought that if I didn't take on any challenges, nothing would change.
What I bought with money back then was not a tool.
It was the possibility that 'I might be able to make the rest of my life more interesting.'

Well, the word 'debt'
naturally has a bad image, after all.

But money itself has no good or evil; what matters is what that money creates.

If it is only for short-term consumption, it might cause you suffering in the future.

However, if you use it to hone your skills, gain new experiences, and expand your potential, it should be an investment to buy a richer time for your future.

When I started mountain climbing,
when I bought a camera,
and when I gathered many other tools,
I never wanted the 'things' themselves.

What I wanted was the experience that lay beyond them, such as,
the scenery I see on a mountain, for example.
The joy of taking photos.
The pleasure of writing.

As these things come together,
I get the feeling that life is gradually becoming richer.

I feel that money was also just a tool to obtain that time.

That is why I think tools and money are similar. Their value does not lie in themselves.

I believe people grow when they think about whether they can truly create a rich time for themselves.

I do not think UL (Ultralight) is a culture that pursues 'lightness' for its own sake.
By making things lighter, you can walk more freely.
By reducing your load, you can take your time to drink coffee at the summit.

By conserving your energy, you can enjoy the scenery.
Therefore, in short,
lightness is not the goal.

It is a means to create a rich time.

Life is surely the same.

Increasing convenience is not happiness.
Increasing possessions is not richness.
It is about discerning what is truly necessary and letting go of the rest.

By doing so, the time you truly value will increase.

When a culture matures, it returns to its essence. And perhaps life, too, is something that returns to its essence.

That is why I want to continue searching for 'necessary and sufficient' from now on.

Tools, money, and life.

Everything exists
to increase the time that is truly rich for you.