Across four categories—tops, bottoms, trail shirts, and active insulation—we added six new products in 2025.

Developed in collaboration with Teijin Frontier, we released Yamatomichi’s first synthetic-fiber base layer. After years of sticking to merino wool and other natural fibers, we took on two challenges often associated with synthetics—chilling from sweat and odor. After five years of development, we created a base layer that brings together the strengths of both synthetics and merino wool.

Two wide-fit versions joined Yamatomichi’s staples, the 5-Pocket Pants and Light 5-Pocket Pants. Drawing on two different approaches—the balloon silhouette and monpe, a traditional style of Japanese workwear—we repeatedly refined the details over two years of field testing. The result is an original pattern and silhouette that’s distinct from typical wide pants, offering exceptional freedom of movement even in the mountains.

A trail shirt based on the UL Shirt, featuring large-capacity pockets on both sides of the chest. The pockets are positioned so they don’t interfere with backpack straps, making it easy to take items in and out while on the move. The pattern provides extra room around the shoulders and arms, then tapers toward the hem, creating a clean look despite the relaxed width.

A modified version of the Alpha Vest—Yamatomichi’s most minimal active insulation—now with a kangaroo pocket. The material of the pocket is wind resistant, adding more warmth in the core area.

Working in partnership with the UK-born Pertex, we co-developed a lightweight yet highly durable fabric designed specifically for backpacks Yamatomichi envisions, and adopted it for the 2025 Spring/Summer models of the ONE/ MINI/ MINI2. With an optimized weave structure and a supple design that helps dissipate impact, it achieves the lightness required of a backpack while also delivering strength that surpasses typical nylon fabrics. Durability was further improved by pairing it with a polycarbonate coating that resists hydrolysis.

Takuya Sasa is a traveler who has journeyed through more than 60 countries, a musician who plays the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and performs throat singing (khoomei), a researcher of raw food and vegetarian cuisine, and a pastel artist. He now lives a self-sufficient, self-built lifestyle along the Shimanto River in Kochi Prefecture.

In his 25th year of traveling, Sasa embraced ultralight for the first time. With a lighter pack, he spent two months in 2024 walking across Taiwan.

His stories of the people and lives he encountered on foot in Taiwan are deeply fascinating. We couldn’t help but wonder—what would someone like him feel and experience after going ultralight? That curiosity led us to invite him to share his journey here in Yamatomichi Journal.

When it comes to ultralight hiking, there’s no shortage of resources on gear, technique, and pack weight. But when it comes to topics unique to women’s experiences on the trail, the conversation is still catching up.

From planning trips that overlap with menstrual cycles to choosing underwear that stays comfortable after days of sweating, some topics simply don’t get enough airtime. Yet, these are the realities that many hikers face. Instead of brushing them aside, we believe in sharing openly—because when we do, we empower each other to hike with more confidence, comfort, and clarity.

In this spirit, Ai Hino sat down with our Kyoto and Kamakura store staff—each an avid ultralight hiker—for a candid and inclusive roundtable. Together, they explored how to balance personal care and performance on the trail, covering everything from makeup and undergarments to menstrual management and physical wellbeing.

At Yamatomichi, hiking isn’t just encouraged—it’s part of the job. Our team is expected to get out on the trail regularly, and for many of us, that’s a dream come true.

We’ve published a large library of articles in Japanese, and we’ll be rolling out English versions over the coming months.

Join our staff as they take to the mountains and share what they learn along the way—real-world ultralight hiking, tested in the field.

We’re moving ahead with plans for a new factory that brings production and our headquarters functions together here in Kamakura, where Yamatomichi is based. As a first step, we’ve opened the Toyooka Factory—a training-focused sewing facility in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Five new team members joined us from a wide mix of industries, and from April we began building the foundations for a scalable, made-by-us production setup—training, workflows, and the systems needed to sew consistently at volume. Production of the Stuff Pack XL soon followed, and by December the Toyooka team had grown to 12 people as we keep moving toward full operation.

In 2025, we once again stepped beyond Japan—and our connections and relationships overseas grew even stronger.

In March, Yamatomichi products began to be newly stocked at Morimori in Kowloon, Hong Kong. We first met the owners, Donald and Ruby, in 2019. Since then, they’ve visited Yamatomichi Kamakura and joined our events many times. Through slow, steady exchange, our relationship grew into an official partnership.

In August, we participated in PCT Days 2025, an event held in Cascade Locks, USA. It was a valuable opportunity to share Yamatomichi’s approach to ultralight hiking gear—and the thinking behind it—with hikers from around the world who gathered at PCT Days.

Gear Junkie article.

In Japan, two new stores were added to our official dealers list.

Located in Kofu, Yamanashi, ELK proposes a wide range of activities, including hiking, climbing, trail running, and backcountry skiing. Inside the store, you’ll find a diverse lineup of clothing and gear carefully selected by the staff—people who are out enjoying the field themselves. ELK also offers strong support, with an “ELK Repair Service” for repairs and maintenance, as well as a counter for “GATES,” which provides guided hiking tours.

In addition, Yamatomichi products also began to be stocked at LUNETTES Yama no Hou in the Nasu Highlands of Tochigi. Opened in July as the second shop of LUNETTES in Nasushiobara City, it carries ultralight hiking products from Yamatomichi and beyond, along with daily goods and camping items selected through a UL lens.

What did you think of Yamatomichi’s initiatives in 2025?

Thank you for warmly following our work and supporting us throughout the past year!