On a sunny spring day, Mr. Chubachi visited the Fudo Falls Nature Plaza Auto Campground in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture. A friend of his who is involved in festival work manages the campground, so he often comes here to camp after meetings.

I've been camping and climbing since I was in my 20s and have been outdoors for more than 10 years. I still go camping several times a season.

I carry my tent, shelter, cooker, fire pit, and other necessary outdoor gear in my minivan, which I also use for work and which has a lot of storage space. Setting up the tent is also something I am used to. Once we find a spot with a nice view, we quickly spread out the tent, peg it, and set it up quickly. The jacket we wear is waterproof and breathable, so it is comfortable even when working up a sweat. The tough material means you don't have to worry about stains or tears.

I have many friends who love the outdoors, so we often go camping together. That's why I like to use a large tent. Solo camping is also attractive, but I prefer to spend time relaxing in nature with my friends.

Once the tent is complete, set up the table and chairs and prepare for a bonfire. After boiling water and brewing coffee, take a sigh of relief.

I have always been in charge of meals. I make simple dishes that can be served as snacks with drinks. My favorite summer dish is somen noodles. It tastes better when you eat it in nature. After cooking, I just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fire while doing nothing else.

Columbia's pants are stretchy, so you can move around actively, but also relax and unwind.
I want to be as comfortable as possible because I want to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. Functional clothing is essential for that."

There was a beautiful babbling brook just beside the campsite. Mr. Chubachi put on his waterproof shoes and entered the shallow water for a minute.

I don't do any fishing, but just looking at the beautiful creek, which you can't find in the city, soothes my soul. If I have waterproof shoes, I can enjoy nature even more."

With the same shoes, we will now trek along the mountain path. With the sun shining through the beautiful trees, you will walk slowly at your own pace.

Since I started working with plants, my view of nature has changed. I began to take a closer look at what plants grow and how they grow, how they bear fruit, and so on. When arranging flowers, sometimes it is best to make them look as natural as possible. In such cases, the knowledge gained from nature comes in handy.

Chubachi's style is light and nimble without even carrying a backpack.

I can fit most of what I need in this vest," he said. It's better to stay as light as possible so you can relax and enjoy nature.

After a brief walk around the area, Mr. Chubachi switched his mind to work mode. He was asked to plant new plants in the rock garden at the entrance of the campground.

Every time I visit this campground, I plant a few plants and go home. It's like playing while I work (laughs). (Laughs.) The area gets quite cold in the winter, so I choose plants that are tolerant of the cold.

The plants we prepared that day were Brahea almata, a type of palm that is resistant to cold, and lavender. After digging the holes, making the soil, and planting the plants, fertilizers and dewormers are sprayed. It is quite hard work.

I don't wear work clothes to work either. I like to wear clothes for town use both at work and in the outdoors. In that respect, Columbia's clothes are perfect. They are sophisticated yet functional, and I can use them hard when I work.

After finishing his work, Mr. Chubachi now begins work on his own. He has a minivan full of tall potted plants and lots of cut flowers. These will be used to decorate the area around the camp site.

I also thought it would be interesting to try to bring another kind of nature into the natural surroundings. Usually when I go camping, my friends prepare a vase of flowers in anticipation that I will bring them. In fact, just putting a few flowers on the table makes me feel very luxurious.

Potted plants are placed in tin buckets used at work to blindfold the entrance to the tent, and cut flowers are stocked in cooler boxes that hold water for the time being.

The plants I brought today are all from warm regions such as New Zealand and Africa. I wanted to enjoy the contrast by daring to place plants in nature that are completely different from the vegetation in Japan."

As he speaks, Mr. Chubachi cuts the stems of the flowers. Inside his vest, he has plenty of storage for scissors, saws, knives, wire, rubber bands, gloves, and other items he uses in his work.

'Clothing with lots of pockets really helps. This vest is especially useful because it allows me to efficiently store my tools according to the size, type, and position of the pockets. I sometimes have a stall at festivals where I sell flowers, and it also comes in handy for keeping my change in."

Ms. Chubachi deftly arranged the flowers in an outdoor tumbler! He skillfully combined several types of flowers to create a stunning floral arrangement.

You don't have to use a proper vase to arrange flowers. For outdoor use, you can use a tumbler or a bottle of alcohol that you have finished drinking. I think you should enjoy situations with flowers in a casual way. The flowers used in this project are all flowers that can be made into dried flowers. After enjoying them outdoors, you can take them home and display them in your room as a memento.

Plants that are placed in their natural habitat make their charms stand out even more. The sense of style is indeed excellent. However, Chubachi says, "I think that flower arrangements are like fashion; it is not about what is good or bad, but about the individuality of the person who arranges them.

I used to work in apparel before, and I realize that floral arrangement and fashion have a lot in common. Clothing has elements such as color, texture, size, and silhouette, and we coordinate them while considering the balance between them. I also dare to make some off-balance adjustments. I am often conscious of this when arranging flowers.

Enjoying flowers in nature is an outdoor activity with an added bonus. Why don't you give it a try?

Columbia's items make outdoor activities more enjoyable and comfortable. All of them are backed by solid functionality and at the same time are fashionable enough to be worn both outdoors and in town. They will surely be useful at festivals in the coming season.