Following the large-scale renovation of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building last March, the bags and luggage section on the first basement floor has undergone a dramatic transformation. The boundaries between shoes, bags, and other items have been blurred, creating a space where customers can more freely enjoy shopping according to their individual lifestyle preferences.

A MONTBLANC pop-up store will open on Wednesday, April 24th . It will feature not only their signature writing instruments, but also timepieces, leather luggage, and more. The pop-up's theme is "travel." Highlights include the "#MY4810" trolley and the "SUMMIT2" smartwatch, both made in their own workshop in Florence. Visitors will be able to fully experience the brand's world, befitting its name, which evokes the image of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, a mountain conquered by countless adventurers.

This time, we invited model Takashi Sakurai, who has ties to the brand, as our guest to talk about various things related to "travel" and "Montblanc."

Takashi Sakurai

Born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1979, he began his modeling career while still in high school. Since then, he has been active in various media, including magazines, dramas, commercials, and advertisements. He currently appears as a cover model for magazines such as "Men's Club" and "Tokyo Calendar."

--This time the theme is "travel." Are there any places you've been to recently that you particularly enjoyed?

"Actually, I haven't been able to go recently, but I'm planning to go to Hawaii and Hong Kong in April (this interview was conducted at the end of March). Both are for work, but I'm looking forward to it as it will be my first time overseas in a while. The trolley I bought a while ago is still sparkling clean, so I'd like to put it to good use (laughs)."

—You've been to many different places, but which trip stands out as your most memorable?

"I've been to Japan many times for work and other reasons, but the last time I went abroad was six years ago when I toured Southeast Asia. It was a so-called 'guys trip' with close senior and junior colleagues from my office (laughs). We went to all sorts of places then too. We started in Singapore, went to Thailand and Vietnam, and then came back to Singapore. In the end, we just drank and had a great time. It was a really fun trip, with a sense of liberation that you don't usually feel, and sightseeing while chatting like idiots with just guys."



—It's interesting how travel experiences can be completely different depending on the people you're traveling with and the location. By the way, is there anything you always bring with you when you travel?

"I think most of the small things like transformers are the same as everyone else's, but the one thing I always bring is pajamas. I don't bring the ones the hotel provides; I bring the ones I always wear at home. It makes a difference to how I sleep and allows me to relax more. Sleep is especially important when you're working. I also bring earplugs and an eye mask. And flip-flops. They're useful not only for the beach, but also when going out onto the balcony or to the shop. And if they get dirty, I can just wash them."


--Earlier you mentioned that you should use your trolley, and I think that having the right items can really lift your spirits while traveling. What do you prioritize when choosing items?

"I think everyone has different values, but for me, practicality is the most important thing in everything. I like to use things I like for a long time. I recently bought a Leica camera and lens that I've wanted for a long time, and I carry it with me wherever I go. I don't care if it gets scratched or dented. Rather, I think it makes me more attached to it, and that adds to its character. That's why, before buying something, I make sure to see and touch the actual product and choose something that moves me."

—We live in an age where we can even take pictures with our cell phones.

"Watches and cameras are all integrated into a single smartphone, so if you're not particular, you can get by with just that. But still, it's a bit bland, isn't it? Since I bought a Leica, I've had more opportunities to slowly observe the scenery outside and pay attention to the smallest gestures of people, and I'm getting new inspiration from them. I think that these kinds of things are often broadened by the objects themselves."




—That's exactly what Montblanc's signature writing instruments are like, aren't they?

"I think it was about 20 years ago that I first touched a Montblanc pen. It was a ballpoint pen. Paying a considerable amount of money for a pen that you could buy at a convenience store or a 100-yen shop was quite an experience. I think the one I bought cost around 30,000 yen. I felt like I had become a little bit of an adult, and I was very happy."

NEXT Travel gave me an opportunity to re-examine myself.