In 2019, 10 years after SPROUT opened, a new location called Camp&Go opened next door. It houses multiple shops and galleries, and each section is called a "site," just like a campsite. And the people who work there are nicknamed "campers."

Many people come and go, influencing and being influenced, stepping up and setting off to their next destination. We asked Toge about the background of the creation of this place, which is the catalyst for all of this, and his thoughts on the future.

I wanted to live in an environment as close as possible to Alaska.

When Touge was 20 years old and a student living in the Kanto region, he found a book called "Alaska: Light and Wind" by Michio Hoshino in a used bookstore, and it inspired him to travel to Alaska. After experiencing the splendor of the local nature, he gradually began to yearn for life in the north. He wondered where there was a place with an environment that was even slightly similar to Alaska, and he ended up in Hokkaido.

Tougega-san visiting Alaska at age 20

"My relatives love skiing, so I came to Niseko when I was in middle school. I never thought I'd end up living there one day, but the name 'Niseko' was always in my mind. After I returned to Japan from Alaska, I went to a few interviews for work, but it just didn't feel right. Then, when I was looking at an outdoor magazine, I came across an introduction to NAC (Niseko Adventure Centre). I was shocked to see that there were people who lived and played in Niseko! (laughs) So I decided I wanted to work here... and my interest in Niseko began."

NAC is an adventure center that offers activities such as rafting and ski tours that allow you to fully enjoy the nature of Niseko. While Toge had a strong desire for Niseko, after graduating from university he got a job at an outdoor manufacturer in the Kanto region, gained experience as a kayak instructor and guide, and finally made the move to Niseko at the age of 24.

While working at NAC, Tougega-san discovered the joy of trail running while working as a kayak guide in the summer and a ski resort patrol in the winter. He got married in his second year, and after working there for five years, he left the company and returned to the United States to think about what he wanted to do with his wife.