Sponsorship is inseparable from professional sports such as baseball, soccer, and motor racing. The watch industry is no exception, and many athletes such as Keisuke Honda and Masahiro Tanaka have built friendly relationships with watch brands in Japan. Shohei Ohtani, who is currently competing in the WBC (World Baseball Classic), is one of them. We will spotlight the relationship between Otani and Seiko, which continues to make great strides in the world.
-Shining on the arm of Shohei Otani, who decided to brisk in a suit, is the world-class Made in Japan[Seiko]
The first round of the WBC is a heated battle every day. There are many people who put up with a drink after work and go straight home.
This year’s Japan squad selected five major leaguers, tied for the most ever. One of the most notable is Shohei Ohtani (28) of the Los Angeles Angels, who embodies the “dual-wielding” style of pitchers and hitters and continues to fascinate baseball fans around the world.
The “Otani Rule” that allows starting pitchers to concurrently serve as DHs and continue to play as DHs even after leaving the pitch has also been adopted in this tournament, which became a hot topic. At the moment (March 11), Ohtani’s batting average is 50% and 4 RBIs. Even in his first game, he held China to one hit and no runs in four innings, and his performance is growing day by day.
Otani is dignified in his Samurai Japan uniform, but his suits, jackets, and jackets are also top-notch when traveling and at press conferences. Basically, there are many simple coordination with plain suits and jackets, but it is because of the outstanding style with slender limbs.
And peeking out from the cuff of the suit is a watch from Seiko, Japan’s world-class watch brand.
In 2022, Ohtani became the first player in 104 years since Babe Ruth to record double-digit wins and double-digit home runs. To commemorate this, Seiko Astron’s “Nexter Series Shohei Otani 2022 Limited Edition Model” (discontinued) was created to adopt the visitor uniform color worn at the time of the achievement.
-Collaboration models with Otani motifs have been made since the Nichiham era
Otani has a long relationship with Seiko, and in 2016, his fourth year as a pro with the Hokkaido Japan Ham Fighters, he was used as an image character for Seiko Men’s Watches.
Then, in 2018, when he moved to MLB, Seiko signed a supplier contract with Otani. Otani was presented with four watches: the Seiko Astron SBXB123, the Grand Seiko SBGA211, the Seiko Presage SARX051, and the Seiko Prospex SBDC053.
Incidentally, when Ohtani won 17 or more races named after his jersey number, he was promised a one-of-a-kind watch, but this promise has not yet been fulfilled.
In addition, from Seiko Astron, where Otani serves as the brand’s image character, many limited collaboration models with Otani have appeared, including the Nippon Ham era. The “Nexter Series Shohei Otani 2022 Limited Model (SBXC125)” with the impressive Angels visitor uniform color that appeared last year is also fresh in our memory.
Currently, sales of last year’s collaboration model have already ended, but depending on Otani’s success, the collaboration model should be released this year or later. If you like Ohtani even more after seeing his brave appearance at the WBC, please support him and look forward to the appearance of the next collaboration model.
●Product Specifications
“Nexter Series Shohei Otani 2022 Limited Model (SBXC125)” (Discontinued)
・Price: 308,000 yen (tax included)
・ Number of units sold: Limited to 1700 bottles in Japan
・Case size: thickness 12.2mm, width 43.1mm, height 48.0mm
・Case material: Pure titanium (diamond shield)
・Glass material: Sapphire
Movement: calibre 5X53
・Drive system: Solar GPS satellite radio wave correction
・Operation period: Approx. 6 months when fully charged (approx. 2 years when power is saved)
・ Waterproof: Waterproof for daily life enhancement (10 ATM)
