About 60 percent of my time is spent coming up with content while discussing service development with engineers, holding planning meetings with editors or consulting with outside minds in various fields. The remaining 40 percent is consumed by helping operate seven companies as an unaffiliated director. I have to say I enjoy the time spent on service development, including media. This is something applied to my previous line of work as well, but while turning a profit is important, in online services there is a strong drive to make people’s lives not only more convenient but better as well.

Another thing is that recently the words “minimalist” and “share” are often used alongside “eco”, so more than a few people are buying things with a click online and then turning around and selling them almost immediately. I think it’s possible that we may see an even harder shift in this direction in the days to come, and it is precisely because the times are such that I believe we need to preserve a sense of value when it comes to enjoying vital products while using them with care.

It is in the hopes that people will have even more fun in their life style with these important items that I operate the web service “Muuseo”, which allows people to create a museum of their collection online, as well as the web media “Muuseo Square”, which introduces products and the people who enjoy them.

Then and now, many of my purchases are prompted by curiosity. That is true of the Lavenham coat or the Yard O Led pen that have been my companions for many years, and when it comes to British footwear, I simply can’t help but want to know what makes each brand different. When I actually try them on, I can tell that they all have distinct design philosophies. That’s what I find interesting.

I believe that having a sense of curiosity that broadens the world is extremely crucial in life, and this is the concept of the services my company offers. I plunged myself into a venture company, becoming involved with all sorts of businesses as I am now, and what I’ve noticed is that the question of whether the president of a company is interesting also important. If I feel that I want to know more about this person, then my spirit of inquiry rouses and allows me to enjoy doing business with them. Just like with selecting products.

I go to England once a year, staying for around two weeks at a time. When I was a child, I often read works from England, which made me want to go there some day. This longing is perhaps what led to my admiration of Britain and its products. London is a bit too crowded for my liking, so recently I’ve been going exclusively to the countryside. My favourite region, Devon, is very much like the scenery that appears in Burnett’s The Secret Garden. The book is set in Yorkshire, but Devon is where I arrived when searching for the type of wilderness that appears in the story. After staying in an inn there I’ve been returning each year. I’m also a fan of The Lord of the Rings, and the author, J. R. R. Tolkien, also happens to be British. This is very apparent in how much the landscapes appearing those books resemble the countryside of England. I don’t actually do much shopping when I go to the UK, though. Instead I just ride the train all over the place. It’s wonderful to be able to experience the world of those stories I love so much.

Quite some time ago, I felt the urge to buy this red-brown bag with gold-coloured clasps that I spotted in a store. Unfortunately, it vanished from the shelves before I could actually purchase it. Thinking back on it now, I believe it was that very British combination of brass and leather that caught my eye. Sometime later I came across this pen case, which I bought because of its unconventional design.

I was curious about what it would be like to actually put it to use from the moment I saw how innovative it was in the way it gave access to its contents. What I like about it is that, unlike other pen cases, this one not only protects the pens within, but also has smart touches like a pocket for other small objects. It never fails to catch the eye of those around me when I open it up at work (laughs). I also find it interesting how tough the case is despite being made of very thin leather. It hasn’t lost even a hint of colour despite being squished and jostled around in my bag. I’ve been using it for going on ten years now, and it still performs perfectly.

At first wax rises to the surface of the leather. Then as you polish and put the leather to use it creates a lustre. I find the way you get a feel for the leather maturing in this manner to be quite appealing. I’m obsessive when it comes to maintaining leather, so not only do I keep the proper implements at my own company, but also in my desks at those other businesses where I serve as an outside director. If I have a free moment I’ll apply a bit of care, even during meetings (laughs). It isn’t good to apply too much cream, but I just can’t help myself. I have an assortment of care products, but if I do chance upon something new I instantly want to try it. When it comes down to it, the greatest thing about leather to me is how it matures the more time you spend with it.

British products aren’t made with the rationality of German products or the intricacy of those from Japan. It is my impression that, rather than all items from Britain being a certain way, they are solid when it comes to the materials, but vary when it comes to design. The UK itself is a nation where the old exists alongside the new, such as in how homes there are kept up nice inside but absolutely never rebuilt. The British have their own logic when it comes to what to keep and what not to keep, and as a result what does end up being kept is quite interesting. The antique silver cutlery I collect symbolizes this perfectly.

It’s also intriguing how, while each era is different, design can change drastically depending on the reign of the queen in power. If I were to describe it in terms of why this cutlery is made of silver, I believe it’s because the intent is for it to be something passed down over the generations. Though crafted from the enduring material that is silver, depending on the period the design of the cutlery may be altered to have tones of art deco to it, or perhaps feature a combination with mother-of-pearl. This “lack of balance” in the good sense is what characterizes British products in my mind.