Perfect cushioning mechanism in the bag.

Showa Nishikawa's muatsu is synonymous with healthy bedding.

west side of a riverThe history of the Nishikawa family dates back to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Muatsu was born 47 years ago. It was created with the idea of making it easier for bedridden hospital patients.

The urethane mat has its own unique unevenness.

west side of a river: Yes . . It was inspired by rockets. The rounded tip was calculated to minimize resistance when entering the atmosphere. If that were the case, the pressure on the sleeper would be effectively dispersed.

Yoshida.: That's a great idea. It's like the greatness of people...that's what you focus on, isn't it?

west side of a river. The structure seems to have been calculated with considerable precision. After repeated trial and error, the product was completed after about three years of development . After that, it was used in a number of prestigious hospitals, including the University of Tokyo Hospital, and we received many requests to use it at home even after discharge from the hospital because it was so comfortable. So we began to sell it commercially.

Since then, it has remained a popular product of Showa Nishikawa, hasn't it?

west side of a river. The amazing thing about this product is that it has spread by word of mouth rather than by advertising. People who have experienced this have come to trust the product widely by recommending it to their neighbors and giving it as a gift. People who felt this way recommended the product to their neighbors and gave it as gifts, and the product came to be widely trusted.

Now, how did muatsu come to collaborate with "Porter Classic"? There doesn't seem to be much of a connection....

Yoshida.. It was through a mutual acquaintance that I was introduced to the company. I didn't have an idea of what I was going to do from the beginning, but rather, I simply greeted him first. That was about four years ago. I was nervous when I visited the company for the first time (laughs). (Laughs).

west side of a river. it's my pleasure (laughs).

Yoshida.. I had never used muatsu before. . I was surprised to find that I could actually sleep on it. When I actually tried it, I was amazed. I was like, "What is this? I was like, "What is this? I wondered what my previous bedding was like.

west side of a river. I grew up knowing only muatsu, so I wanted to know where it stood, and I did a lot of research. I stayed in so-called high-class hotels and experienced several beds that cost more than a million dollars each, but I felt that muatsu was amazing. There is a difference in the way I feel when I wake up from sleep.

Yoshida.. I know you have that kind of thing. My family has been making bags since I was born, too, so I am sensitive to the difference when I have something different.

west side of a river：The unevenness of muatsu has remained unchanged since its birth , and in a sense, it is perfect and flawless. It is based on a calculation that puts the least burden on the body. You have confidence in that once again.

. because we knew it would be a historic product.

And how did you come up with the idea of applying it to bags?

Yoshida.. it was like a natural outgrowth of the conversation. . Since it is such a wonderful technology, it would be a waste if we did not make use of it in something. At first, we were suggested to put the muatsu on the back, but that would be too thick and would not take full advantage of muatsu's merits. Then we decided that a strap would be better, and development began.

The most pressure is on the straps, isn't it?

Yoshida.: But when I discussed the plan with the craftsmen, they said, "We can't do that....

Why?

Yoshida..: It was difficult to sew. . I thought it would be difficult to properly fit this complicated shape of urethane. There are many skilled craftsmen at the factory where we usually work, and at the time I wondered if it would be really impossible since they said they couldn't do it. . But we knew that if we could make it happen, it would be a historical product. So we worked together through trial and error to find a breakthrough little by little. In the end, it took us three years to develop the product. Coincidentally, that's the same time it took to develop muatsu.

west side of a riverMr. Yoshida would specify the width and thickness, and I would send him a urethane pad, but he would repeatedly say, "I knew it had to be this size," or "This cut," and I would say, "I knew it had to be this size. During the process, I was worried about whether the product would actually be completed (laughs).

Yoshida.. There were many problems, but I think the biggest was that the urethane inside moved. After repeated tests, we solved this problem by wrapping the urethane in a special stretch material and sewing it tightly with advanced technology. It has been three years while we were searching for the perfect landing pad: durable, water-repellent, and so on.

west side of a river. but I am really happy with the finished product. Since it is supported by a point rather than a surface, it doesn't interfere with blood circulation. As a result, it feels very light. . I was also impressed with the comfort of carrying it on my back.

I also carried a backpack with a 6kg weight in it, but I didn't feel any weight at all! I was really surprised.

Yoshida.: Design is subjective, but comfort is the same for everyone. The body is honest.

west side of a river. Fashion and functionality do not go hand in hand. When you make one stand up, the other often doesn't. . But this bag still has the good qualities of a "Porter Classic" bag. I think that's what's great about it.

Yoshida.. As I mentioned earlier, I knew that this would be a historic product, so I was thoroughly selfish.

It should help all kinds of people.

What was the most important part of the design?

Yoshida.. It was difficult to achieve, but I think I was able to reach the ideal point. . It was difficult, but I think I was able to settle on the ideal landing point.

. While there is a fashion point of view, there is also the mission of the original tool bag. . This essential evolution seems to be the starting point for a new type of manufacturing.

Yoshida.When this bag was completed, I asked my father (Katsuyuki Yoshida) to take a look at it. Without explaining anything, I asked him to carry it on his back to see how it looked, and he said, "I can die with this" (laughs). At that moment, I felt confident that I could send it off to the market with confidence.

west side of a river: Is it because, in a sense, you have achieved what your father could not?

Yoshida.: For some time, my father had been saying that he wanted a bag that was easy to carry. . A strong desire to make everyone happy with a bag. . I think that's where it all started. Come to think of it, my 9-year-old daughter was the first to show off her bag to her friends. She said, "This bag is light! She said, "This bag is so light!

west side of a river. children are brutally honest, aren't they?

Yoshida.. I was happy about that, too. I could feel that I did a good job (laughs).

Did you feel that you had reached a new stage in your career with the completion of this bag?

Yoshida.. there are so many things I want to do. . I think it can be useful in many places. . It can be applied to sporting goods, school bags, and even camera bags. Also, baby carriers would be a good idea.

west side of a river: Cuddles! Nice.

Yoshida.. because the weight of a child is incredible.

How do you feel about muatsu from Nishikawa's point of view?

west side of a riverShowa Nishikawa is a bedding manufacturer, but I don't think of it as a mere "futon maker. I think of it more as a healthcare manufacturer. What we sell is not bedding, but health. Therefore, I am very happy that our technology has been applied in such a way as this to expand the possibilities of making people's bodies more comfortable. Distortion of the body causes a variety of problems. This is a memorable first step for muatsu to be able to help people's health with something other than futons.

It's been almost half a century since it was developed, and now it's being applied to something new. I think it shows how excellent it is.

west side of a river.: I would be happy if you would try muatsu as bedding as well. People today spend an average of one hour less time sleeping than about 50 years ago, and the average body temperature has dropped by 0.9 degrees Celsius . Stress is also increasing, and the immune system has been weakened considerably. muatsu will surely be of help in resolving various physical and mental problems.

Now, I understand that the nationwide launch will begin in April , but can you tell us about your future plans?

Yoshida.: Starting with Isetan Tachikawa in Tokyo and Entetsu Department Store in Shizuoka on March 14 (Wed.), pop-up stores will be opened in Osaka, Tokyo, and other locations (*see below). Seeing is believing. I hope you will experience this bag for yourself at the pop-up shops.

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