Blog
Empower and Revitalize Japan for Next Generation
Enjoy our initiatives and ideas that embody SOPHOLA's Vision, Mission and Values.
We will update our employees' daily lives and thoughts so that you can understand the SOPHOLA culture.
The Mystery of Mountain Time: What the Stone Monument Taught Me
The other day, I climbed Mt. Hachibuse, one of my favorite local peaks. My son always asks me, “Dad, when can we go to Mt. Hachibuse?” It’s a mountain that feels like a second home to me. It offers a slightly challenging trail—perfect as a stepping stone for the Alps—and above all, I absolutely love the overwhelming sense of openness near the summit.
While I usually start from Tobira Onsen, on this day I decided to shake things up and take the route starting from Gofukuji, a renowned temple nestled deep in the mountains. As I parked my car and stood at the trailhead, a grand stone monument surrounded by lush greenery caught my eye. An inscription was carved into it in beautiful, flowing calligraphy.
Although I couldn’t read the characters right away, the moment I stood before the monument, I found myself completely captivated by it.
A Philosopher of Turbulent Times and the Message in the Stone
Driven by curiosity, I looked into it later and discovered that the calligraphy was brushed by Yoshishige Abe, a prominent Japanese philosopher who served as the Minister of Education and the President of Gakushuin University from the Taisho to the Showa eras. Although I couldn’t read a single character at the time, this was the message carved into the stone:
“The mountains are as silent as primeval times; The days are as long as those of youth.”
It means that the stillness of the mountains runs as deep as the primeval world before civilization, and a single day spent here feels endless—just like those unforgettable, never-ending days we all experienced in our childhood.Yoshishige Abe lived through an incredibly turbulent era. As the head of a prestigious national high school during the dark years leading up to World War II, he fiercely resisted military pressure to protect his students. After the war, he navigated intense negotiations with the Allied occupation (GHQ) to rebuild the foundation of Japan’s modern education. He spent his life in a whirlwind of non-stop, exhausting duty.
For a man constantly fighting on the front lines, the deep forests of Mt. Gofuku were a sacred sanctuary—the only place where he could finally take off his armor and just be a human being. The mountains held a mystical power to reset the time that slips away so quickly in daily life, returning him to his roots: the ancient world and his own childhood. Realizing this, I felt a deep, wondrous connection. No wonder I had been so inexplicably drawn to that stone monument the moment I saw it.
The Gloomy Path and a Mysterious Change of Heart
When I learned the true meaning of those words, I realized that my entire trek that day was connected to the stone by a single, invisible thread. To be honest, when I first started walking, I was carrying the exhaustion of the previous night and the mental clutter of daily life; the gloom just wouldn’t leave me. In fact, I had almost given up on the idea of going to the mountains at all that day. Even as I hiked through the beautiful, wooded trail along the stream—featuring the rare and fascinating “French-style step dams”—my mind was completely consumed by heavy, everyday problems, and my steps felt sluggish.
But then, just before the Gofukuji junction, I crossed paths with a group of senior hikers. We stopped, exchanged a few jokes, and shared a brief conversation. In that exact moment, something magical happened. The heavy cloud of gloom that had been weighing on my chest vanished into thin air, as if it had never been there.Walking in the mountains, combined with those casual, once-in-a-lifetime encounters on the trail, possesses a mystical power of detoxification that instantly dissolves the stress of the world below. As I kept moving forward, my senses completely synchronized with the profound silence of the mountains.
Dense “Time of Youth” and Onward to the Next Challenge
When I finally reached the summit of Mt. Hachibuse, I was greeted by a panoramic view so breathtaking it left me utterly speechless. Enveloped in that overwhelming sense of freedom, all the worries of daily life suddenly felt incredibly small.
At the peak, I happened to chat with some fellow hikers about our climber-focused brand and the products we are developing. They were genuinely excited about what we are doing. In that moment, I felt a deep sense of gratitude—knowing that all the trials, errors, and failures we’ve pushed through to get here were completely worth it. Before I knew it, time had flown by, and I had to rush my descent. Yet, looking back, every single moment was remarkably dense. It was a deeply fulfilling time that felt just like those endless, sun-drenched days of summer vacation in childhood. I truly felt I had experienced the essence of “a day as long as youth.”
Life brings endless challenges every single day, but the mountains possess a mystical power. They release the heavy pressure weighing on our minds and hearts, refreshing our thoughts and restoring us to who we truly are. They allow us to spend time melting into nature and connecting with the people who love it. I want to passionately drive our projects forward so that we can preserve these incredible mountains for our children and generations to come.
Masaki “Mark” Iino
Founder & CEO
SOPHOLA, Inc
Founder & CEO
SOPHOLA, Inc