FEATURE | TIE UP

Translated By DeepL

People watching live music, eating, and running at Fuji Rock.
Enjoy Fuji Rock Festival with Keen

People watching live music, eating, and running at Fuji Rock.

There are many ways to enjoy Fuji Rock. You can dance all day long to the music, eat and drink festival food, or even go trail running in the nearby mountains. Here is a report of the three enjoying themselves to the fullest at Fuji Rock, a festival with endless possibilities, with shoes by Keen.

Case3_ TRAIL RUNNING You can run from the venue to the trails. Fuji Rock is a very good environment for trail running.

PROFILE

Yusuke Sanchu
Multi-running creator

Born in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, and currently resides in Nakagawa Town, Hokkaido. Professional trail runner. Produces and organizes running events, as well as being a photographer and coach. He handles everything related to running. Currently based in Nakagawa-machi, Hokkaido, he enjoys an active lifestyle, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and biking on his days off.
Instagram:@yusuke_tannaka
Currently open to the publicArticle on Hui-Nam Running Club♡.He is also appearing in

I heard that this is your first time at Fuji Rock. I also heard that you came here mainly for trekking.

Anti-China: That's right. I would trek around the neighborhood from morning to early afternoon, return to the hotel for a shower, and then visit the Fuji Rock venue in the evening for drinks and to see a live concert.

It's been a productive day for you, hasn't it? Did you see the concert?

Anti-China: Friday night we went to Pyramid Garden for dinner. This is an area produced by Candle Jun, and I enjoyed the music in a nice atmosphere. I also went to see Tatsuro Yamashita and Sambo Master perform live on Saturday. Other than that, I basically ran.

Naeba is rich in nature, and it looks like a pleasant place to run. I saw many people running around the Fuji Rock venue in the morning. I think running and enjoying live music at Naeba is a new way to enjoy Fuji Rock.

Anti-China: It will be interesting to see if this trend takes root in the future. A pair of treerunning shoes can be used for running in the mountains, on roads, and at festivals. There was a lot of off-road terrain at Fuji Rock, and I saw many people slipping and sliding. But treerun shoes have a good grip, so you can move safely without worrying even on muddy surfaces. If you enjoy both runs and festivals, I recommend treerunning shoes for their versatility.

Where did the treelan run?

Anti-China: This is Mt. Hirabeshi, not far from here. There are several trailheads, but the one closest to the Fuji Rock venue is only a little over 1 km away. The closest one to the Fuji Rock venue is only a little over 1 km away, and the most popular trailhead is less than 3 km away. It is easy to get there by running.

I had no idea there was a trekking spot so close by. I had no idea.

Anti-China: Mt. Heibei is also attractive because it is only about 4 km from the trailhead to the peak of the mountain. It is easy to access, a good distance to the summit, and also has a sense of scale. I was very impressed because it is not easy to find a mountain with such conditions.

So, Fuji Rock is a great place to go trekking, isn't it?

Anti-China: The Gunma Border Ridge Trail is also easily accessible, and I think this is a very good place for trekking. There is an area called SkyGrass, which is the only area in Fuji Rock that can only be accessed by gondola ride, and I thought it would be interesting to access it by running, since it was in such a great location.

This time, we asked you to try on Keen's first trail running shoe, the Seek. How do you like them?

Anti-China: I could feel the reassuring cushioning and softness of the uppers the moment I put them on. I got the impression of a gentle sneaker. In terms of design, they have the feel of old-school running shoes, so they would fit in comfortably as street shoes.

What did you think of the actual run?

Anti-China: The midsole was soft and fluffy and had a gentle feeling when I ran. I ran on a variety of surfaces, including rocks, dirt, and sand, and I could feel a firm grip.

SEEK ¥26,400
These authentic trail running shoes incorporate the DNA that Keen has cultivated over many years in the development of hiking shoes. They are known for their bouncy cushioning and durability that can withstand a 925-mile run. These shoes are suitable for a wide range of people, so we recommend them as the first pair for those who are just starting out in trail running.

Anti-China: Also, treerunning shoes often have mountain-specific features, but these "Seek" shoes have no peculiarities, so I felt that I could wear them anywhere. I think anyone can wear them, like it or not.

It looks like a good choice for people who are just starting out in trekking.

Anti-China: Yes, they are. We recommend them as a first treerunning shoe, and since they can be used for a wide range of purposes, they are just right for those who want to do both road and treerunning with a single pair.

What do you expect from Keen, a newcomer to the trail running scene?

Anti-China: Many existing shoe manufacturers are performance-oriented and specialize in competitions to run faster, so I have high expectations for Keen in other areas. Recently, more and more people are enjoying trail running as a lifestyle, so if Keen can incorporate the elements of fun, such as festivals, camping, and leisure activities, which it has cultivated, into running, it will attract new fans and make the trail running scene more exciting.

INFORMATION

KEEN JAPAN

Instagram: @keen_japan
www.keenfootwear.jp

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