Finding your own value in a place of nothingness on a deserted island | TRAPOL Representative Interview [Part 2]

Trapol Editorial Department

The Trapol editoral department introduces fascinating places across Japan, including regions visited by Trapo staff who have traveled to 47 prefectures and 600 cities. We present them in an easy-to-understand manner, focusing on locally popular spots, gourmet food, and unique ways to enjoy these places as experienced by the locals.

TRAPOL is a new travel service from the Kansai Electric Power Group that offers unique, local travel experiences where you can make friends on location. Not only that, but they also offer a survival plan on a deserted island. Why does a travel company sell a deserted island plan? What can you gain from a deserted island? In this series, we will delve into the aspirations of Kengo Moriwaki, the representative of TRAPOL, regarding deserted islands.

DATE POSTEDFEB 202321

This is the middle part.

We interviewed the representative about "Unique Ways to Spend Time on a Deserted Island" and "The Unique Charms of an Inconvenient Place," so please enjoy until the end!

For those who haven't read the first part yet, click here ▼

「次世代のエネルギーを人間本来の喜びから生み出す」どうして電力会社の社内ベンチャーが無人島？｜TRAPOL代表インタビュー【前編】 TRAPOLは現地に友達がつくれる、ローカルでユニークな旅を提供する関西電力グループの新しい旅行サービス。それだけでなく、無人島のサバイバルプランを提供しています。なぜ旅行会社が無人島プランを販売するのか？無人島で得られるものは何なのか？このシリーズでは、無人島にかけるTRAPOL代表「森脇健吾」の想いに迫ります。

Finding your own "role" on a deserted island

All you can rely on are your friends and three items!?

The representative, who began with the hobby of tree drilling, has visited uninhabited islands numerous times. When asked about their particularly enjoyable experiences there, they responded as follows.

When I was a student, I have fond memories of staying for a month by narrowing down the items we brought with a few friends. There were about eight of us, and each person brought three essential items. I was in charge of the hunting, but we also had someone for cooking, someone for carpentry, and someone for music. Naturally, the roles developed into what people wanted to do.

They each brought weapons perfectly suited to their strengths and what they wanted to do. The representative, armed with only a snorkel and a harpoon, was relentlessly spearfishing.

The comedian in charge of hyping up the crowd

Apparently, there was even someone in charge of comedy. "They would come with a pot lid and a bronze sword, wearing a helmet, but it had no practical use at all. (laughs)," the representative said, recalling those times with a smile.

It's a magnificent role to keep the mood lively and make your companions laugh from beginning to end. That's the true pleasure of a deserted island survival, finding your own unique role even without weapons.

A place where you can experience both happiness and hardship.

Three days spent in a cave during bad weather

Of course, since it's survival, it's not all fun and games.

Have you ever felt like your life was in danger? There was a day with extremely bad weather, and I couldn't return to the main island for about three days. Because of the heavy rain, I stayed in a cave. But I couldn't dive in the sea, so I couldn't catch any fish either.

Although I could gather shellfish and wild plants, so I wasn't completely without food or drink, I truly felt the power of nature.

Despite personally experiencing the terror of the sea, they say that days that are stable and unchanging are more boring.

Conversely, because I've had those experiences, the next meal I eat feels incredibly delicious. The true charm of a deserted island is enjoying everything, including the hardships.

Make uncomfortable places comfortable with your own hands

The key is how to enjoy the inconvenience.

Having experienced both the bitter and the sweet, a deserted island is not a comfortable place; in fact, it is inconvenient. "The important thing is to savor the joy of making it comfortable ourselves."

For example, the speed of time is said to be completely different in the city.

No matter how much you have, it's never enough, but time flows slowly.

Rather than fast or slow, it feels like a difference in quality.

On those days, they feel an endless stream of things they want to do, from what to eat to creating a comfortable home environment, and the day ends rather quickly. The feeling of wanting more and more time, like no amount of it is ever enough, is unique to these extraordinary occasions.

However, in that sense, it's fast, but the flow of time itself is slow. Including the time spent zoning out, it's one of the things I want to do on a deserted island.

How one chooses to spend their time is up to each individual, but the secret to fully enjoying a deserted island is to deliberately embrace "your own role" in an "inconvenient place."

Finally

How was it?

In the middle section, we asked the representative for their unique ways to enjoy a deserted island.

Please look forward to the second part!

At TRAPOL, we offer a plan where you can experience a deserted island survival with such a representative.

For more details, please click here!

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