Column | Manufacturing in the COVID-19 era.

Modern progress can be described as the pursuit of convenience and comfort through "industrialization." There is a strong magnetic force at work in this, moving from rural areas to urban centers, from dispersion to concentration, from heterogeneity to homogeneity. In this way, the places we live, our homes, and our clothing have been steadily increasing in density toward a single focus for over 100 years, taking with them the "values" we live with. Some people who are sensitive to the discomfort, dissonance, and discomfort they feel toward the world that has matured in this way have already been working behind the scenes to break the spell of this "concentration."

We are now living in an age where such tension is finally about to be torn apart by a highly infectious virus. Naturally, the stronger the tension up until the very last moment, the stronger the backlash will be when it bursts, so we will need to calmly assess the situation for the next few years. However, if there is one thing that will not change for decades or even centuries to come, it is our efforts to protect the global environment. It goes without saying that the current virus, as well as the increasingly violent heavy rains and typhoons, are by-products of humanity's excessive industrialization.

If there is any hope for us humans in this age of mass production and mass consumption, it is that each of us has the "power to choose." Each of us is a "weak creature" who can only think about the 100 years or so in which we will live. That is why, in this day and age, we must clearly present each individual with options to "choose," and show them a new shape and hope for the future. I believe that to "create things" in this day and age requires the resolve to shoulder more responsibility than any other human being in any other era.

We use recycled polyester as a material, and donate a portion of our profits to people working on social issues. Of course, such technical efforts are important, but what we essentially want to achieve is to strongly support a "lifestyle with running." I have never felt that the ultimate simple act of "running" holds as much potential for the future of humanity as I do now. By getting as many people as possible to adopt a "lifestyle with running," we will ultimately create a world where the "way of life" itself can positively be affirmed as it shifts from collective to decentralization, and from homogeneity to heterogeneity. In the turbulent year of 2020, we have renewed our resolve that this is what Runtrip Store is pursuing: creating a "world where people can run more freely and enjoyably."