Tumi Axis: How Do These Three People Carry These Cutting-Edge Bags?

Naohiro Yamamoto is an actor who appears in both stage productions and film and television projects. While he is currently preparing for a stage production set to open this September, he says that spending time with his child, who was born in February, is the center of his life. He and his wife support each other as they tackle household chores and childcare together.

"Since my child was born, my daily routine has changed quite a bit. I’ve started waking up early, and I’ve also started going to bed on time at night. Every day is a bit of a challenge, but I’m learning so much from my child, and every day is full of new discoveries."

One of Yamamoto’s favorite pastimes is bouldering. Whenever he finds some free time, he packs his shoes and a change of clothes into his bag and heads to the gym. The “Medium Tote” from “Tumi Axis” fits naturally with his casual style.

"When I go bouldering, a bag this size is just right. It fits a pouch with my water bottle and toiletries, and it’s not too big or too small—it’s the perfect size for me. This should come in handy when I go to practice after work, too."

"I used to use a backpack that opened at the top like a drawstring bag. But this one is great because I can get my stuff in and out with just a few simple movements. It’s convenient that the opening flips wide open. Also, while Tumi used to have a strong business image, the ‘Tumi Axis’ really goes well with casual outfits too. The zippers are all black, and the matte finish of the nylon pairs nicely with casual clothes.”

After changing clothes, I do some light stretching and head over to the wall. Staring at each hold, I let my imagination run wild, picturing which route to climb.

"Since I climb while visualizing several moves ahead, I naturally end up thinking about nothing but the wall. It requires both physical effort and concentration, so I feel like all the extraneous noise just fades away."

Once he grabs a hold, Mr. Yamamoto moves his body fluidly and climbs upward in the blink of an eye. His graceful movements are as if he were having a conversation with the wall. You can really sense that he’s enjoying himself while taking bouldering seriously.

"Bouldering is a great workout, and I love that you can enjoy it even when you're alone. Of course, I sometimes do it with friends, and since we all have different climbing styles, I discover new things. Afterward, I'm nicely worked up a sweat and feel pleasantly tired, so it's a really great way for me to recharge."

After climbing the wall while enjoying various routes, we took a short break. During that time, he also told us about his future goals.

"I want to become an actor who can view myself from a bird’s-eye view. I want to be able to structure my performance while constantly thinking about how my movements look and how my lines are coming across. The senior actors I respect make really subtle adjustments, building on them from rehearsals and refining them even during the actual performance. That attitude is a great lesson for me, and I think it’s really cool. Just like with bouldering, I want to be able to anticipate the next two or three moves ahead.”