A series of columns “Celebrity Watch Hunting” that introduces what kind of watches celebrities around the world are wearing. This time, we will focus on the watches of Shohei Otani and other Samurai Japan players, who won the title of world number one in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in 14 years, and Mike Trout, who showed a great game.
Yukako Numamoto: Sentence
Text by Yukaco Numamoto
Article posted on March 26, 2023
A watch worn by a Samurai Japan player who excited Japan at the WBC
The Samurai Japan National Team won the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in 14 years since Japan 2009.
In this tournament, major league players such as Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish were joined by Yakult Munetaka Murakami, who won the Triple Crown last year, Aki Sasaki, who holds the record for the highest ball speed by a Japan player, and Lars Nootbar, who became the first Japanese major leaguer to join the Japan national team.
This time, we will introduce the watches worn by Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Taisei Makihara of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Sosuke Genda of the Seibu Lions, and Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants, who hit the final home run in the championship game.
Shohei Ohtani wears “Seiko Astron” at the Los Angeles Angels press conference
Photograph by Aflo
Shohei Ohtani was photographed at Angel Stadium in Anaheim during MLB’s Los Angeles Angels press conference on December 9, 2017. It is reported that the signing bonus at that time was 266.2 million yen. By the way, the annual salary in 2023 is said to be 4.34 billion yen, and it may increase further in the future.
There are many companies that want to become sponsors of Shohei Otani, who has a strong clean image as well as his ability and name recognition as a player worldwide. Meanwhile, from an early stage, Seiko worked on collaboration models and promoted Otani.
The first model unveiled in 2017 was the Seiko Astron worn in the photo above. It features a coloring reminiscent of the team colors of the Hokkaido Japan Ham Fighters, to which Otani belonged at the time, and a special bezel. The time zone of the regular version has the code “TYO (Tokyo)”, but this is “SPK (Sapporo)”, the team’s home base.
Shohei Otani’s hand close-up.
The Seiko Astron inherits its name from the Quartz Astron, the world’s first quartz watch released by Seiko in 1969. Announced in 2012 as the world’s first GPS solar watch, its biggest feature is that it can receive signals from GPS hygiene up to twice a day and automatically correct the exact time of your current location.
Since the drive is solar charging, there is almost no need to replace the battery. Even if you go overseas, the GPS solar watch shows the local time immediately when you go out of the airport and get sunlight, so it is a highly practical model for people like Shohei Otani who are active in the world.
The model worn by Otani has Otani’s signature on the back cover. In addition, the letters of Limited Edition, which is a proof of the limited quantity model, and the serial number 0001/3000~3000/3000 are printed, and it is a specification stored in a special box.
The “Seiko Astron Shohei Otani Limited Model” announced in 2017. GPS Solar (Cal.8X22). Average monthly difference ± 15 seconds (when worn on the arm at a temperature of 5°-35°C without reception). Stainless steel (diameter 45.2 mm). Water resistant to 10 ATM. Limited edition of 3,000 pieces.
Taisei Makihara wears a custom Apple Watch
Taisei Makihara holding the microphone at the YouTube “2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™ Samurai Japan Championship Return Press Conference March 23, 2023”.
Next, let’s take a look at the watches worn by the players at the championship press conference at the Hilton Narita on March 23, 2023, shortly after Samurai Japan arrived at the Japan. First, Taisei Makihara wore a custom Apple Watch.
Taisei Makihara, who plays for the SoftBank Hawks, expressed his humility at the press conference, saying, “I didn’t play in the match from the start with a great team, but it was a good experience to win the championship in the last moment of the (midfield) defense.”
He was troubled when he was selected as a replacement for Chicago Cubs player Seiya Suzuki, who withdrew from the competition. He was also worried about the impact of participating in the WBC on his team. “I’m happy to be the best in the world, but I have to raise my level,” he said.
Close-up of Taisei Makihara’s hand.
Apple Watch is used by many athletes, but Taisei Makihara seems to have customized it by combining the case of the aftermarket electronic customization service “Golden Concept”. Golden Concept is a luxury brand from Sweden that develops high-end iPhone cases, Apple Watch cases, and accessories.
Based on the shape of the case and the cutout in the bezel, Makihara seems to be wearing the company’s RST44 on the Apple Watch Series 6 or SE. Makihara was caught wearing the same model at the Samurai Japan championship press conference held at the Hilton Narita and at Narita Airport when he arrived.
The RST44 case of the wearing model uses titanium, and together with the rubber strap, it realizes an even lighter wearing feel. The case, which is attached so that it covers the entire area, has an appearance that changes the impression so much that you can’t tell at a glance whether it is an Apple Watch or not. The back case is hollowed out in a circular shape, so it can be said that it is a watch case that has both an appearance and a practical aspect that can be charged while wearing the case.
Makihara, who is famous as a multiplayer player who can defend anywhere, was originally an infielder, but he also played catcher during his youth baseball days. The Apple Watch, which can vary depending on the case, may be my favorite.
The Apple Watch Series 6 or SE equipped with the Golden Concept RST44 is a watch worn by Taisei Makihara.
Sosuke Genda wears the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
Sosuke Genda holding the microphone at the YouTube “2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™ Samurai Japan Championship Return Press Conference March 23, 2023”.
Sosuke Genda of the Saitama Seibu Lions suffered a serious injury with a fractured little finger on his right hand during the tournament, but played the full game as the eighth shortstop in the finals. It is said that fighting to the end as an indomitable iron samurai also inspired the feelings of the other members. “I’m happy to be able to play baseball with a great team and get the best result in the world,” said Genda Sosuke, whose samurai spirit impressed fans.
Be.
At the championship press conference held on March 23, when asked about the scene that left an impression on him, he said, “In the final game, with two outs in the ninth inning, with one more to go, everyone on the bench was leaning forward and leaning forward into the game.
Sosuke Genda was still unable to use his little finger in defensive throwing, and when he hit, he cut off the little finger of his leather glove and put the taped finger out, which was painful just to watch. However, even in the midst of injury, he went 2-for-8 with two hits and three walks, including a timely one, and made a series of good plays defensively.
Close-up of Sosuke Genda’s hand.
It is believed that Sosuke Genda was wearing a combination model of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. Probably the previous generation with Cal.3126/3840 from the third vertical dial layout.
Sosuke Genda’s indomitable professionalism is similar to the strength of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. It combines a sturdy case made of 43 mm diameter stainless steel and black ceramics with an elegant “Mega Tapestry” dial.
This is the current Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. 26420SO.OO.A002CA.01. It combines a stainless steel case with a black ceramic bezel. Automatic winding (Cal.4401). 40 stone. 28,800 vibrations per hour. Power reserve about 70 hours. Stainless steel (diameter 43 mm). Water resistant to 10 ATM. 5,225,000 yen (tax included).
Kazuma Okamoto wears a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner
Kazuma Okamoto holding the microphone at the YouTube “2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™ Samurai Japan Championship Return Conference March 23, 2023”.
Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants has a self-paced personality among the Samurai Japan members. With a height of 185 cm and a weight of 96 kg, he seems to be intimidating, but his answers at press conferences and other events have become a hot topic on SNS as they invite laughter.
In the quarterfinal match against Italy, Okamoto Kazuma ran on a stolen base and was out, but coach Shimizu, who served as the first base coach at the championship press conference on that day, said, “That was me from the side.I told you a lie… I said it was an end run. I’m really sorry. That’s why I was out,” said Kazuma Okamoto, earnestly apologizing publicly.
Close-up of Kazuma Okamoto’s hand.
The model worn by Kazuma Okamoto, a large athlete with a gentle atmosphere that soothes the surroundings, is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. It is convincing that Kazuma Okamoto loves the Submariner, which can be used tough and has a high reliability in all aspects.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. Automatic (Cal. 3230). 31 stone. 28,800 vibrations per hour. Power reserve about 70 hours. SS (diameter 41 mm). Water resistant to 300m.
One of Rolex’s signature models, which has been inherited almost unchanged since its inception in 1953, is the Submariner. It became one of the benchmarks for diver’s watches in watchmaking and is still popular as a symbol of a historic turning point.
The black dial is equipped with simple and large hour markers such as triangles, circles, and rectangles to ensure visibility underwater, and is a highly functional model that can read the time accurately instantaneously. It is not possible to identify the model number that Okamoto is wearing, but the current product is equipped with the company’s own Cal.3230, a movement announced in 2020.
The movement uses a patented clonagy escapement that combines high energy efficiency and reliability. It analyzes the operation of the standard Swiss lever escapement in conventional mechanical watches and further enhances its performance.