"Celebrity Watch Hunting" focuses on the watches worn by celebrities from various genres. This time, we take a look at the Rolex worn by Itsuji Itao, a Yoshimoto comedian who is highly regarded for his surreal style and natural acting, at the Cannes Film Festival.
Text by Yukaco Numamoto
[Article published on January 4, 2024]
Itsuji Itao is praised for his "creepy and scary acting"
Many people may recognize Itsuji Itao not as an actor, but as a comedian, thanks to his many years of appearances on Downtown's programs. Born in 1963, Itao turns 61 this year, making him a veteran comedian. He originally enjoyed watching comedy, but felt he wasn't cut out to do it himself. He once worked at the well-known Chinese restaurant "551 Horai," but after quitting, he brought a cake to Shimada Shinsuke's home and applied to become his apprentice. Instead of becoming an apprentice, he enrolled in the fourth class of NSC, Yoshimoto Kogyo's talent training school, and formed the comedy duo "Hong Kong Macau." Incidentally, Itsuji Itao was the comedian in "Hong Kong," not Takahiro Kurano (Honkon) of his current comedy duo, 130R, and his partner at the time was a different person.
As a comedian, Itao Itsuji has a unique presence and sense of timing, and the same can be said for his acting. For Itao Itsuji, playing a character in a comedy sketch and a character in a movie or drama are not particularly different. Its natural expansion in the scope of his roles makes sense, given his natural acting ability. Many viewers often praise Itao Itsuji's movies and dramas, often describing them as "creepy" or "too scary." Of course, this is only true for the roles he's been given, but the unique atmosphere he exudes is sure to appeal to directors and producers. Considering the number of dramas and movies he has appeared in, it seems more appropriate to call him an actor than a Yoshimoto comedian.
Itsuji Itao wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner at the Cannes Film Festival photocall.
In 2009, director Hirokazu Koreeda's "Air Doll" was screened in the "Un Certain Regard" section at the Cannes Film Festival. Looking at the wrist of Itsuji Itao, who participated in the photocall, he was wearing what appeared to be a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner.
The Submariner was introduced in 1953 as a diver's watch with water resistance to a depth of 100m, and has remained one of Rolex's most iconic models ever since. Its distinctive graduated rotating bezel, highly visible display, and luminous hands and hour markers are elements that many people associate with a diver's watch.
Not only is it attractive, but its professional-grade practicality and durability are also key reasons why it continues to attract so many people. The Submariner's unidirectional rotating bezel features a 60-minute scale, is easy to turn even with gloved hands, and produces a satisfying ticking sound, allowing divers to keep track of time. The highly corrosion-resistant Cerachrom bezel insert is also resistant to corrosion from UV rays and seawater.
The watch worn by Itsuji Itao at the time (2009) is thought to be equipped with the Caliber 3130 Reference 14060M (manufactured between 2001 and 2012). The case size is 1mm smaller than the current model, with a case thickness of 12.55mm, almost the same as the current model. This model was first fitted with a watermarked crown at the 6 o'clock position, and in 2007 the movement was certified as a chronometer, with an engraving on the inner ring.
In 1953, the water resistance was increased from 100m to 300m, and the triple-sealed Triplock crown protects the movement from water and dust. The Oyster Perpetual Submariner is a versatile watch that can be worn at resort events, off-duty, or even on the red carpet. In fact, James Cameron, director of Titanic, has told stories of wearing a Submariner as part of his formal attire when he saw the Titanic from the window of a submersible and at the Academy Awards ceremony.
Itsuji Itao's choice to wear the Oyster Perpetual Submariner on this occasion is likely due to its versatility. In this photo, he is wearing a thin Chrome Hearts bangle on the same wrist as the watch, coordinated with a bold-looking shirt featuring a fire pattern of tigers and dragons and vintage jeans. This is a perfect outfit for casually wearing a Rolex. Even at the glamorous Cannes Film Festival, he is seen enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, including American casual attire, in a natural way.
Like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner, a versatile watch with practicality, design, and versatility that allows it to be worn every day with confidence, I look forward to seeing more of Itao Itsuji's talents, which may not be flashy but have hidden powers in a quiet way.
http://www.webchronos.net/features/107978/
http://www.webchronos.net/features/104615/
http://www.webchronos.net/features/69489/
