[Series 【RUNNING THINGS] Vol. 2: A Spiritual, Gear-Obsessed World Depicted by Up-and-Coming Photographer Innicon.

Traceless Windbreaker ￥45,000
Breathing Fleece Hoodie PrimaLoft® Active ￥34,000
Halftone Shorts ￥23,000
*Other items are for reference only.

In recent years, the running scene has been evolving beyond the realm of mere competition and sports to become a cultural phenomenon in its own right. With not only global sports manufacturers but also a new generation of running brands on the rise, choosing the right gear has become a real dilemma. In “RUNNING THINGS,” I—Yamamoto—a member of the Fuinam editorial team who has completely immersed myself in running as a cultural phenomenon without giving fashion a second glance—will be introducing gear from brands around the world that have caught my eye, based entirely on my own subjective opinions and biases.

• Photo_Yohei Miyamoto
• Edit_Hiroshi Yamamoto

To be honest, I’m not really into the spiritual world. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it sketchy, but when people say things like “maintain a healthy mind through yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises,” it makes me feel a little embarrassed. That’s because, in my case, I feel like I get the same benefits just by running. In other words, I can’t help but think: Isn’t it quicker to just start running than to close my eyes, take slow, deep breaths over and over, and awkwardly try out unfamiliar poses?

〈INNICON〉 is a running brand and project that has directly confronted and expressed the spiritual realm—something I’ve always struggled with.

Launched in 2026, it’s brand-new. The origin of its intriguing brand name is said to be a coined term: the “IN” at the beginning represents self-reflection, while “NICON” is borrowed from the Zen term “而今” (nikon), which means “this very moment.” Based on the concept “running is meditation,” the brand presented its collection at the launch event through a conceptual installation where guests could immerse themselves in the brand’s worldview while experiencing activities such as stone stacking and meditation.

Being the restless type, I quickly wrapped up those two experiences and took a look at the long-awaited first collection—only to find a gear-obsessed world that appealed to a man’s inner child, quite different in tone from the conceptual direction of the installation.

This mid-layer, which uses PrimaLoft Active Evolve—one of the active insulation technologies gaining attention in recent years—features a reversible design that balances breathability and warmth, thumbholes that allow you to check the time, and a half-zip design intended to allow the sleeves to be wrapped around the waist for storage—all of which demonstrated performance capabilities that went beyond mere concept and truly delivered on the field.

With this ultra-lightweight wind jacket—still in development—features such as the deliberately water-resistant zipper and the seam sealing on the exterior make it clear that the designers are still navigating the balance between an experimental, fashion-forward approach and the product’s overall refinement, a process of trial and error that is plain to see.

Beauty for style and the functionality demanded by active lifestyles. While pursuing both, expresses the philosophy of “running is meditation” through its products—without ever veering too far into the spiritual realm. Given this truly one-of-a-kind approach, what kind of products will emerge next? Be sure to check them out at “meanwhile,” one of the brands’ retail partners.