An endless love for nature

There is a small island in the middle of the lake, which is also owned by Bob. Previously, it was slated for development, but he bought the entire island to prevent that. He said, "I've just started building my house there," and showed me the blueprints. He not only designed Hunting World products but also architecture, and he designed his new home himself. He said, "I seem to have an innate eye for design." The interview covered a wide range of topics, including his brand philosophy, his approach to design, and product development and improvement, and lasted for a long time. Throughout the interview, Bob frequently looked out the window. I later found out that he was concerned about the weather. "Even animals dislike getting wet and don't want to walk outside much," Bob said. If the rain stopped, he might be able to show the Japanese visitors wild animals, which was why he was so concerned about the weather.

From the villa on the lakeside, I could see the small island in the lake that I had just purchased (top left photo). During the interview, Bob, seeing that the rain had stopped and the sky was clearing, stood up and said, "Let's go before it starts raining again!" He led the bewildered interview team to his private boat moored in the lake. After being greeted by his beloved dog (top right), they boarded the boat and headed to the island. The mockup of his house, which Bob himself designed, was in the process of being built on the island at the planned construction site. While bears and other wild animals gather around the villa, deer also inhabit the island. Bob, wanting to show them to the interview team, guided them around the island with binoculars in hand (bottom left). Although they didn't spot any at that time, during a break in the resumed interview back at the villa, Bob looked through a telescope from the balcony and saw a herd of deer on a small hill on the island (bottom right). "If I don't see deer for a day, I somehow get worried," Bob said. His gaze when talking about the animals was simply and utterly gentle.

From a young age, Bob loved outdoor sports. Later, he explored hidden corners of the world, and for him, nature and the animals that live in it have always been his most cherished subjects. That is why he has been actively involved in ecological surveys of wildlife since before environmental problems became apparent. He has also donated to two nature conservation organizations, the National Audubon Society and the Wilderness Society, to assist with their research. He is particularly concerned about deforestation, stating, "Organizations that know nothing about nature are logging without a plan. It's a terrible situation." He even teaches nature management at Montana State University in the northwestern United States (Bob's stance is now carried on by Hunting World's Borneo Charity Project). Yet, nature is still being destroyed by human hands. His words, "I've decided not to go back to Africa. The good old days of Africa are in my memory," brimmed with regret. Speaking of which, his purchase of the island was not a whim, but rather to prevent development. For the busy Bob, this place, where nature remains as it is, was a place where he could find true peace. Showing visitors the animals that live there was, in fact, Bob's ultimate form of hospitality.