Traveler 02: Shusaku Toba Things that are made more flavorful by travel.
PROFILE
After working as a J-League trainee and an elementary school teacher, he entered the culinary world at the age of 31. sio opened in 2018. The restaurant has received one star for four consecutive years from the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020. Currently, he has 8 restaurants: "sio", "Hotel's", "o/sio", "o/sio FUKUOKA", "Parlor Ohashi", "Kitsune", "The New World", and "Delicious Pasta". They deliver "deliciousness" in a variety of ways beyond the boundaries of a restaurant, including recipes published in books, on YouTube, and on SNS, and food production. His motto is "Increase the denominator of happiness.
Instagram: @shusaku__toba
While working as the owner-chef of "sio," Toba says he often travels throughout Japan in search of ingredients.
. "I often go to see regional foods, and the best places I've been to recently were Saga and Toyama. . Saga has a lot of good ingredients and the land is good. . In Toyama, the water was just great. I like to feel the local water with my whole body, so I make it a rule to take a sauna when I travel. The quality of the hot springs in Toyama is also good, and I felt quite comfortable bathing in the open air.
The bag she uses to store her clothes and other belongings is not a carry case, but a backpack from "Monolith. This is another example of Mr. Toba's deep attention to detail.
I travel mostly within Japan for two or three nights, so a large backpack will suffice. I try to keep my luggage as small as possible, so this is all I need. I try to keep my luggage as small as possible, so this is all I need. I don't use a carry-on case because I always need to have both hands free when traveling. I have been using "Monolith" since the first model, and I trust its storage capacity and functionality. Since the release of the XL size, it has become an indispensable item for domestic and business trips. In the past, I used to take about 5 nights' worth of luggage with me, even if it was just for a couple of nights, due to worry. But recently, my luggage has become much more minimalist, and I make mysterious efforts to see how little I can pack (laughs)."
DAIWA PIER39's mountain parka
This is a modern, brushed-up version of the classic style mountain parka.
I don't like to carry too many bags on a trip, so this mountain parka with its many pockets is very useful. The material used is GORE-TEX Infinium, so I don't have to use an umbrella if it rains a little. . It is a necessity when the weather is unpredictable. It's simple but fashionable, and it suits my style."
TEATORA's Souvenir Hunter Packable
The packable series from Theatra is designed to make packing for a trip easier, making it the perfect product for traveling.
. "The Souvenir Hunter is also in the bag I always carry. Since it is a packable type that can be folded up small in the inside pocket, I always bring it with me when I travel in the cold season. I love that it doesn't wrinkle easily and can be worn over outerwear. I've been using it for three seasons now, and it's hard to find a packable coat that surpasses this one."
The Hermit Club's bucket hat
Mr. Toba has a strong image of knit hats and caps, but he chose a bucket hat from The Hermit Club, the original label of Shinsuke Nakata, who has created many hit products.
Whenever I fly early in the morning on a trip, I always put on a hat, but I always pick up this bucket hat. Knit hats are fine, but I don't like the way they get stuck to the Velcro on bags and other items and become furballs. . Also, the brim of a regular cap gets in the way, making it difficult to compact. This bucket hat can be folded into four pieces, so it doesn't weigh down my luggage when I take it on a trip.
New Balance's 2002 GORE-TEX
Whenever I go on a trip, I always wear "New Balance" on my feet. I do a lot of walking when I travel, so sneakers are a must. Thankfully, people around me know that I like New Balance, so I'm allowed to wear them on formal occasions (laughs). I chose GORE-TEX because I was worried about the weather on the trip. But with GORE-TEX, I don't get wet, and my feet are comfortable even in the rain. I won't be taking any other shoes with me, so this is my only choice!"
Travel pouch, mini shoulder from DAIWA PIER39
. "I don't take my computer with me when I travel. I only use my iPhone for gadgets, since my smartphone is surprisingly sufficient for returning e-mails and having online meetings. . That is why I am afraid of running out of charge (laughs). (Laughs). A charger and a mobile battery are also necessities. I keep my travel luggage in a GORE-TEX travel pouch. I like the fact that it is much more compact in the travel pouch. The "Daiwa Pier 39" mini shoulder bag is for carrying around while traveling. If it's as compact as this, I don't have to worry about carrying it with me.
IKEUCHI ORGANIC towels
If I were asked what the best towel in Japan is, I would definitely say the towels made by Ikeuchi Organic in Imabari," he said. I trust them so much that I even use them for hand towels in my store. Hotels have their own towels, but they are kind of stiff and hard to use. This is a shower towel, but it is large enough to wipe your body with. Towels, like denim, are meant to be nurtured, and if they are well maintained, they can be used for up to five years, so I would like to use them for a long time while maintaining them.
