PROFILE
Born in 1999. Originally from Osaka Prefecture. She works as a model and has appeared in advertisements, brand lookbooks, and fashion media. She has been commuting between Osaka and Tokyo but moved to Tokyo in January of this year. In addition to modeling, she handles a wide range of creative projects, including styling and production.
Running is best when it's hot.
Rintaro usually takes care of his friends’ dogs whenever they’re away from home. He’s currently looking after three dogs. On this day, he took Rita—who was rescued from the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture—for a walk in the park. Rita used to be a stray, so she’s naturally wary of strangers, but she’s completely warmed up to Rintaro.
"At first, she wouldn't come near me at all. But as we spent time together, sleeping and living side by side, she gradually warmed up to me, and I was so happy the moment she opened up and came closer. I feel like she trusts me, and I've gradually started to understand what Rita is thinking."
Even though we can’t communicate with words, our hearts connect. The time I spend with my dog brings the contours of my daily life into sharp relief.
“I make sure to get up in the morning and go for a walk. Even if I have work during the day, I always come home in the evening and go for another walk. It’s really great to be able to establish a steady daily routine through walks and meals. Also, since I’m usually spending time with other people, walking the dogs is a precious moment of alone time. I’m juggling various tasks at once, so I use that time to clear my head. I think I run regularly for much the same reason.”
Just like walking his dog, running—which helps clear his mind—is one of Rintaro’s hobbies. He says he especially enjoys trail running. He’s always loved nature and animals and used to enjoy hiking, but eventually that wasn’t enough for him, so he started running in the mountains.
"When I went hiking, my goal wasn't to reach the summit—I was more interested in collecting crystals and enjoying the scenery as it changed with the altitude. But just walking got boring, so I tried running, and it was so much fun that I got hooked on trail running."
Ever since then, every time I’ve visited different mountains, my passion for trail running has grown deeper, and even now that I’ve moved from Osaka to Tokyo, I continue to visit various mountains.
“When I lived in Osaka, I used to go back to Mount Hira in Shiga Prefecture over and over again. You get a panoramic view of Lake Biwa, and in the spring, there are still a few spots with lingering snow—the scenery is just beautiful. Since moving to Tokyo, running in places like Kamakura and Karuizawa has been really refreshing, but rather than popular, crowded mountains, I really love running on mountains near restaurants or public bathhouses I want to try, and then stopping by those places on my way back. Tokyo is so crowded and hectic, isn’t it? So, I feel like I’m escaping to the mountains and regaining my own rhythm through trail running.”
Although he’s become hooked on trail running, he can only head out into the great outdoors on his days off. Rintaro, who loves running, usually runs on roads, but here’s how he enjoys it differently.
"I want to run on the road, but to be honest, it’s tough, so I just run at a fast pace while listening to music, thinking about how quickly I can finish (laughs). It’s kind of like a game. When I run on the road, I just get that runner’s high. I like running without any particular goal in mind. When it comes to trail running, I enjoy chatting with friends, taking in the scenery, and running all the way down the mountain in one go."
For Rintaro, who also loves fashion, his trail running apparel and gear are part of what makes the sport so enjoyable. He seems to prefer designs that are hard to pull off in everyday life but look just right in a running context.
"I tend to wear bright colors and bold patterns, as long as the clothes are made of functional materials that dry quickly and are breathable. In fact, I sometimes even go for a run just to wear those outfits—I really enjoy running, including putting together my outfits. If the size fits, I’ll even choose women’s clothing."
For models, maintaining their figure is part of the job. They often head to the mountains to get in shape and go for intense runs.
"If you head to a mountain that takes about five hours round-trip with just two rice balls, and just keep climbing and running, you can really tone your body. I go to the mountains a little before a shoot or before summer starts to get in shape. I adjust how much I eat, and to prevent heatstroke, taking salt tablets is a must."
It looks like this summer will be hot again. But that doesn’t mean we should miss out on having fun. We want to enjoy our activities while taking precautions against heatstroke. However, Rintaro seems to be taking a positive view of the heat.
"I like it when it's hot because I want to work up a sweat. I don't really feel like running in the winter. On days when it's over 35 degrees, after I've run hard and am soaked through with sweat, I go to a public bath and take a cold plunge. Jumping into a river feels absolutely amazing, too."
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