Jeep Owner Pick up!

What kind of snowy mountains do Jeep owners drive their Jeeps to, and how do they spend the snow season? This project asks STEEP users and Jeep owners who are skiers and snowboarders to talk about their Jeeps and their lifestyles. We hope to convey the appeal of a lifestyle with a Jeep, sharing their story of how they got acquainted with their vehicles and their emotional attachment to their Jeeps

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The Jeep owner featured in this issue is Seita Kimura, who lives in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture. He is an avid skier who enjoys free riding on his ARMADA skis in the park and side country. What does the Jeep mean to Kimura?

My first encounter with Jeep

-What kind of Jeep do you drive?

It's a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sports (JK38L). I bought it used four years ago, so it was the summer of 2019. The 38 was within my budget. I also wanted a silver body with a black roof. It kind of looks white, though. It's a very bright silver, and if I went for the Sahara, the body and roof would be the same color, which I didn't want. I was very particular about that

-Why Jeep in the first place?

I was actually driving a Toyota Land Cruiser 70 nearly 20 years ago. I've always liked those round doors. Before the Wrangler, I had a Volkswagen Tiguan, and my wife had a Ford, so I thought an American car would be nice. The Wrangler that appeared in the movie "The Fast and the Furious" was actually a silver one. I thought, "I'd love for my wife to see it!" But it was such an expensive purchase that I couldn't bring myself to tell my wife, and I was worried about it, but she said, "You can buy it," so I bought it for her

Commitment to Jeep

-You've driven a variety of cars in the past, but what do you look for in your favorite car?

The first thing they have in common is that they're 4WD. I've driven minivans and such, but what I look for most in a car is "ruggedness." In other words, something that's natural for men to drive, but looks cool when a woman drives it. I think it's the same with sports cars. I also want to stand out. What I look for in a car is a "tool," so it's the biggest toy I own

-What do you particularly like about actually driving a Jeep Wrangler?

It's the appearance, to be precise. The Jeep Wrangler was originally a military vehicle, so I think there's no car cooler than its ruggedness

I still remember the impression I had when I first drove it, and I thought it took quite a bit of skill. I also felt that the straight-line stability was a bit unstable. However, since I had previously driven a Land Cruiser 70, this didn't bother me that much. On the other hand, it allows me to concentrate more on driving, so I personally find it more enjoyable to correct the steering wheel as it gives me the feeling that I'm "controlling" the car. Since it's based on a military vehicle and is lifted, it's inevitable that the ride will be a bit rough, but this is something I was looking for

In terms of functionality and performance, the most important thing is its off-road capability. Not only on snowy mountains, but on any rough terrain, its off-road toughness is second to none

In 2019, a typhoon hit Nagano Prefecture and I was caught up in flooding. My commute route was submerged in about 1 meter of water...but even though it was submerged up to the hood, my Wrangler managed to make it through! Despite the water being up to the hood, I managed to escape the disaster area without stopping in the middle of the night and survive. It's a truly unforgettable story

❖Here's a documentary video from that time. From about the 1:15 mark, the car becomes shockingly flooded... This must-see video not only shows the Wrangler's toughness, but also its military roots, and even its life-saving capabilities. It's definitely worth watching!

-Do you prefer the JK (old model) over the JL (current model)?

If I could choose between the two, I would choose the JK. I told my wife this, but the last car I want to drive in my life is the JK. So I want to keep driving it until the frame rots away

- It might be a bit strange to ask Kimura-san when he's in that state of mind, but is there anything you wish was a little more like this?

What are your complaints? If you try to find something, you'll find that Jeeps are generally said to be cars that don't have very good straight-line stability. But for me, it's zero. It doesn't bother me at all

It's highly fuel-efficient, so it certainly costs more for gas, but it makes me work harder! (laughs) It was my first time driving an American car, a Jeep, and it's sturdy! You might think that American cars break down easily, but they don't break down at all! Maybe it's because we live in a country without vehicle inspections? Anyway, I think it looks the coolest. I got to drive the car I wanted to drive the most in the world

-Have you made any modifications or adjustments to the exterior?

There are quite a few changes. First of all, the car height has been raised by 2 inches. All the lights have been changed to LED. It's not suitable for snowy regions, but it looks cool. Another noticeable change is that the front and rear bumpers have been replaced with American grade RUBICON. The seats have also been changed to RECARO

I search online and arrange everything myself. In my previous job, I worked as both a car mechanic and a salesperson for a company that handled imported cars. So, if it's something like replacing the engine or something that doesn't require specialized equipment, I can do it all myself, so it feels natural to drive a foreign car, and I have no worries at all

-What do you like about the interior and decor, or are there any parts that you have personally arranged with particular care?

The roll bars all over the interior are amazing! I also like the rugged look of the metal plates visible here and there

On top of that, my original design would be the RECARO seats. American cars tend to have fairly soft seats, but I like firm seats, so I changed just the driver's seat to a RECARO seat. It's a comfort-oriented seat that wraps around you, making long drives easier. I also changed the rear seats to a reclining type

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The first radio-controlled car I got when I was little was a Jeep. I cried and screamed at the toy section because I wanted it so badly.
To me, my beloved Wrangler is a toy. The reason is that it makes me happy when I see and touch it.
This feeling hasn't changed since I was a child.

The handling that lets you feel the ground, the way it reflects in the shop window,
when I get out for a break, I can't help
but grin as I gaze upon the Jeep from a distance. When I get in, I can't help but say, "Let's go."
No matter how heavy the snow, it will surely take me to the snowy mountains. That's my Wrangler.

-Seita Kimura

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Snow lifestyle with Jeep

-Please tell us about your skiing style

I mainly go to the park. Even though I'm 50 years old (lol). When it snows, I go to the powder and do side country. If the conditions are good, I also go backcountry

-Where is your home ski slope now?

X-JAM Takaifuji. It's 25km from my home in Suzaka, so it takes about 50 minutes. I ski there around 30 days a year. I currently work for a semiconductor manufacturer, but I have quite a lot of days off, so I try to go skiing on all my days off. I don't usually go to other ski resorts, I'm now a Takaifuji specialist! (laughs) Yomase Ski Resort is next door, so when I want to ski in powder, I sometimes go to Yomase, but Takaifuji is still my favorite

- TakaiFuji is great, isn't it? There's a lodge by the parking lot, and in front of it there seems to be a nice steep slope..

Yes, there is! It's a really good slope. However, the lifts are not running now, so it's a self-responsibility area where you can ski if you're willing to walk there. Before, the lifts were running and there was a scramble for powder, but now you can only get there if you know how. The first track starts at 3pm and it's absolutely delicious

In addition, Takai Fuji now has a large tree-running area, and everyone is trying to climb it, so the ski resort is cutting down trees to open it up as a course. That's why the tree-running area is now so large

More and more people are saying, "When it snows, it's Takai Fuji," so it's a hidden gem. There's very little competition for powder (laughs). When you enter the tree run area, it feels like you're only there with people you know, and you're like, "Oh, you're here too!" But you don't know how to get in

Speaking of skiing style, I have my own rails. They're 4m rails that can be assembled. The legs can be disassembled, so they can be loaded onto a ski carrier. So I load them up in my Wrangler and ski at Shibu Pass in Shiga until mid-June. At that time, it's 20 degrees below ground, but minus 5 degrees on top of the mountain. So tourists often look at me strangely. But our feeling is, if there's snow, we should ski until it's gone. Once that's over, we can do some off-season training

- That's amazing. That's the look of a true, orthodox skier (laughs). Why have you loved skiing for so long and been so serious about it?

I was attracted to the coolness of freestyle skiing and have been skiing for about 40 years

My parents were originally ski fanatics, and I was influenced by them. I lived in Tokyo, but we moved to Myoko and started a pension business... My parents forced me to go to the snowy mountains from an early age, and I used to cry my eyes out. After moving to Myoko, skiing became a part of my daily life, and I thoroughly mastered the basics, and while working part-time as an instructor, I obtained my license as a licensed ski instructor. About 20 years ago, I saw someone jumping with crosses on their skis, and learned that this was "freestyle skiing," so I bought twin-tip skis and have been skiing ever since

I'm so fascinated by this world that I even went on a ski trip to Alaska with friends, and I've also been involved in video streaming, MCing, and event planning. My favorite rider is Big Boss Tanner Hall! I'm fascinated by his unyielding style. In fact, when Tanner came to Hakuba for the FWT four years ago, a friend arranged for us to have a drink together at a bar!

I think freestyle skiing is a form of expression. I think its greatest appeal is being able to share and pursue that expression with friends. Skiing has allowed me to meet many people and encounter a wide range of thoughts and voices. To be honest, I never thought I'd be surrounded by friends at 50 years old

-What do your fellow skiers and friends say about your bike?

Everyone says it suits me. Most of my friends ask to ride it (laughs)

-Finally, if we go to Takai Fuji, will STEEP users be able to hang out with you, Kimura?

I've been working at Takai Fuji Local for 11 years, so I know every corner of it! I love sessions, so if you'd like, please let me attend!
Instagram @seient

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