PROFILE
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1971. As an art director and illustrator, he has collaborated with both large and independent companies, and holds solo exhibitions on a regular basis. His love of mountains has led him to live in two locations, Tokyo and Yatsugatake.
Instagram:@jerry_ukai
Five years ago, we began living at the foot of Mt.
He runs along mountain paths wet with morning dew, paints in his study in the afternoon while gazing at the greenery, and in the evening, tucks into locally grown food at an acquaintance's restaurant. Unlike the time spent in Tokyo, illustrator Jerry Ukai's days in Yatsugatake are always next to nature.
(Columbia)Shoes ¥14,300 (Columbia Sportswear Japan), other personal effects
I loved mountain climbing, so I came to the Yatsugatake Mountains often."
It was five years ago that Jerry moved to the Yatsugatake Mountains, a location separate from Tokyo, to establish a base of operations. He now drives from Tokyo to Yatsugatake to spend time in nature when he has a break from work.
The location, where you can see the spiky ridges of the Yatsugatake Mountains as soon as you open the front door and take a short walk, is picture-perfect for mountain living. Access to mountain trails is excellent, and with the recent "Three Peaks Yatsugatake Trail" trail running competition coming up, the residents are spending more and more time running in the mountains to practice.
I don't go to Gongen often, but there's Mitsukashira just before Gongen, and I often run back there to practice my trek.
Jerry says it casually, but both mountains are over 2,000 meters high. For the average hiker, it would take a full day just to climb up and down, and the next day would no doubt be filled with sore muscles. For him, it is an extension of a walk.
But having your own base so close to the mountains is great for mountain climbers, but just like surfers stop surfing when they live by the ocean, people don't want to go to the ridgeline when they are so close. In the past, if I went to the Yatsugatake Mountains, I would always go peak-hunting, but now I am satisfied just going to the trailhead.
