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）

Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup (3)

 During the two days' tournament, 40 professional and 30 amateur golfers competed for the grand prize of 1 milllion yen, a kabuto samurai helmet and a green haori jacket. The total amount of prize money was 10 million yen. 

 On Apr.24, Takashi Miyoshi carded a 9-under par to win the championship, followed by Tsukasa Watanabe, at 8-under. Third place was shared by Michael Hendry, Kiyoshi Murota and Hirofumi Miyase and Ryosuke Kinoshita. They all finished at 7-under. 

 On Apr.25, Kazuhiro Shimizu and Hiroshi Makino were co-winner at 7-under, with Shintaro Kai carding 6-under for third. 

 Hirofumi Miyase hit a hole-in-one and was awarded 100,000yen for the feat.

From left; Professional golfer Michael Hendry, former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key,
ISPS Chairman Dr. Handa and professional golfer Hiroshi Makino

ISPS



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, May 2, 2017）
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2017/05/01/special-supplements/amateur-golfers-get-rare-chance-play-professionals/#.WS98WIVOLIU

  

Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup (2)

 When making a toast at the award ceremony, Key said, "Let's have a toast for the ISPS-Handa family, Kanpai(cheers)." Key added that he would like to invite Japanese golfers to play at The Hills, Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown, where the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open golf tournament was held this March. Michael Hendry, a New Zealander who won tournament in New Zealand, also played in the Hakone tournament this April. 

 Jumbo Ozaki, who is a Jaermann & Stubi and an ISPS ambassador, said in the ceremony "I decided to become part of the ISPS this year. I expect something good to happen this year."

 The sixty amateur players have bought at least one Jaermann & Stubi watch. Their watch range in price from about 300,000 yen to several millions of yen. Jaermann & Stubi is a brand which Urs Jaermann, a golf lover and Pascal Stubi, a watch master found in 2007 to create precision Swiss watches which can record golf scores. 

 The company only produces about 1000 watches a year and all are hand-made. Melted irons belonging to famous golfers such as Ian Woosnam and Seve Ballesteros. 


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, May 2, 2017）
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2017/05/01/special-supplements/amateur-golfers-get-rare-chance-play-professionals/#.WS98WIVOLIU

Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup (1)

 The International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) held the ISPS HANDA Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup in the Hakone resort area of Kanagawa Prefecture on April 24 and 25. The tournament invited amateur golfers who own Jaermann & Stubi watches, and the worldly famous professionals.

 One of those world-renowned professionals is Jumbo Ozaki. 

 Also, John Key, former New Zealand Prime Minister was invited. He was in office from Nov. 2008 until Dec.last year and became an ambassador for the ISPS in Feb.

 Dr.Haruhisa Handa, ISPS Chairman as well as president of watch distributor of Jaermann & Stubi watches, known as "The Timepiece of Golf", said at the awards ceremony, "I've been in the watch business for 40 years an playing golf for 28. As a person who does both, I decided to sign an exclusive contract." 

Takashi Miyoshi, wearing a kabuto samurai helmet and greeen haori jacket,
is joined by ISPS Chairman Haruhisa Handa at the awards ceremony following Miyoshi's win
on the first day of the ISPS Handa Jaermann & Stubi Owners Cup at Hakonekohan Golf Course
in Kanagawa Prefecture

ISPS



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, May 2, 2017）
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2017/05/01/special-supplements/amateur-golfers-get-rare-chance-play-professionals/#.WS98WIVOLIU