The 18th International High School Arts Festival (2)

 International award winners were also invited to the ceremony, with embassy officials and others presenting certificates of merit to high school students from Belarus, Britain, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel. Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam.
 Other prizes given from the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology and governors of Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyazaki, Nara, Okayama, Osaka, Tokyo and Yamaguchi. There were also pries from the National High School Calligraphy Association, the Japan Association of High School Arts and Crafts Education and other organizations.
 IFAC chairman Dr.Handa told the audience at the award ceremony that the art festival, which focuses on its openness to any high school students and the criteria of the awards are the untested potential of youth. 
 He said, "This festival focuses on the emerging talents of the art world. Prizes are awarded to works that display illustrious sensitivity, character and talent, even if the artists are still a little rough around the edges...I would like Japanese high school students to have exchanges with their peers from around the world . Every year, IFAC organizes entertainment programs among the Japanese and overseas high school students it invites to the awards ceremony, including a trip to Hakone to enjoy spending time with their newfound friends." 
 At the end of the ceremony, as headmaster of Misuzu Gakuen, a chain of cram schools for students who prepare for university entrance exams, Dr.Handa said to Japanese high school students as follows: "You do not have to decide now what you want to do in the future. You will decide what you want to do after meeting many people and having many different experiences. Who decides that you go to just one university or have just one field of focus?" 

Japanese and international high school students
at the awards ceremony 


IFAC 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Aug.18, 2017）

The 18th International High School Arts Festival (1)

 The 18th International High School Arts Festival was held in Tokyo, Aug.9. The festival is one of the largest international art exhibitions for high school students. This year, students from Japan and 18 other countries entered 14.936 pieces, including fine art and calligraphy. 500 pieces of work were exhibited at the National Art Center, Roppongi, Tokyo. 
 At the awards ceremony held at The Ritz Carlton, Tokyo, 31 Japanese students received special awards. 
 This year, top Prime Minister Awards went to Motoki Nakamura, a senior at Nara Prefecture's Clark Memorial International High School in the fine arts division, while Kazuha Iwasaki, a senior at Kohnodai High School in Chiba Prefecture, won the calligraphy prize. 
 Nakamura said, "I' really grateful to have received such a distinguished award. I would like to express my appreciation for the people who inspired my creation."
 His work, titled "Space Seed," drew its inspiration from the big-bang theory, the large explosion that gave birth to the universe. 
 Iwasaki said, "It is my great honor to be presented with the Prime Minister Award. I am truly grateful." His work is a copy of a masterpiece titled "Wu Changshuo Calligraphy in the Style of Stone Drums" by Wu Changshuo, an artist prominent in all genres of art during China's Qing Dynasty.

International Foundation for Arts Culture Chairman
Dr.Haruhisa Handa (center), poses with the winners
of the Prime Minister awards
at the 18th International High school Arts Festival in Tokyo on Aug.9.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Aug.18, 2017）

Misuzu buys Swiss watch company (3)

 Misuzu established its watch business in 1979, distributing more than 140 watch brands, as well as its own designs in Japan since then. It is the exclusive importer in Japan of several international brands such as Roberto Cavalli by Frank Muller, Catorex and Candy Time. 
 In April, ISPS held the ISPS Handa Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup, which invited amateur golfers who own Jaermann & Stubi watches to play golf with professionals, including Jumbo Ozaki, in the Hakone resort, Kanagawa Prefecture. 

Dr.Haruhisa Handa and models display their Hysek watches.

MISUZU

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Aug.8, 2017）

Misuzu buys Swiss watch company (2)

 Others who attended this ceremony include Jumbo Ozaki, the Japanese golf giant, and pro-wrestler Kenji Muto. They strutted the runway with their gleaming Yaermann & Stubi watches while they displayed them prominently on their wrists. 
 Besides, former Japan representatives of Miss Universe, singer Akira Nishikino and others wore Hysek watches to let those in attendance see the high-end timepieces.

 Yaermann & Stubi was founded by golf lover Urs Yaermann and master watchmaker Pascal Stubi to create precision Swiss watches which can record golf scores. The company only produces about 1000 watches a year and all are handmade. Golf irons used by famous golfers such as Ian Woosnam and Seve Ballesteros have been melted down and are used to make some of the watchcases.

 Hysek rose to prominence in 1997 when its Kilada models attracted much attention for their bold and innovative designs. The company expanded its sales channels to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America as it went on to release its first tourbillon and grand complication models.  


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Aug.8, 2017）

Misuzu buys Swiss watch company (1)

 Misuzu Corp., a trading company dealing mainly in high-end watches, recently bought Swiss luxury watchmaker Jaermann & Stubi. Mizumu held a ceremony on July 26 to announce that Misuzu President D.Haruhisa Handa took office as the president of the Swiss watch company. 
 Also, Misuzu announced that it has started distribution of watches from Hysek, another Swiss watchmaker within Japan. 
 Misuzu has been the exclusive distributor of Jaermann & Stubi watches in Japan, and now it has taken on the global responsibility for the high-end watches. 
 Dr.Handa, president of Misuzu, said at the ceremony at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, "We are the only  company in Japan --- maybe in the world --- that does both watches and golf. It is very meaningful to acquire the only watch brand specifically meant for golfers." 

Misuzu President Dr.Haruhisa Handa (fourth fro left),
golf legend Jumbo Ozaki(third from left),
and other guests show off their Jaermann & Stubi watches at a ceremony
to announce Handa's appointment as the Swiss watch company's president
in Tokyo on July 26.

MISUZU


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Aug.8, 2017）