The legendary brand "Takano" has been revived by Hajime Asaoka, an independent watchmaker who can silence even crying children!

"BEST ISHIDA Presents Chronos Japan Tick Tock Talk♪" is a radio program hosted by Chronos Japan Editor-in-Chief Masamasa Hirota. This episode features a video of an after-talk featuring Hajime Asaoka, an independent watchmaker who runs the "all-in-one" luxury brand "HAJIME ASAOKA" and the diffusion brand "CHRONO TOKYO," which sells out in seconds despite only selling online. Asaoka is a celebrity in the watch industry, having created Japan's first tourbillon and been accepted into the Swiss Academy of Independent Watchmakers.

The revival of the legendary brand "Takano"

　"Chronos Japan Version Tick Tock Talk♪" began airing on TOKYO FM on July 1, 2023. After the recording of this program, we will be streaming an after-talk with guests!

　Our guest this time is independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka. He has been secretly working on a project to revive Takano, a legendary Japanese watch brand, and this was announced for the first time on this program. At the time, Takano was filled with the ambition to create the world's best watches, but it only existed for just under five years. Now, the brand, known only to a very small number of watch enthusiasts, will officially be revived at the end of May 2024.

The new Takano receives chronometer certification from the Besançon Observatory

Rather than simply reviving the model, the new Takano is seeking chronometer certification from the Besançon Observatory. As a preliminary test during the planning stage, they sent around 10 watches to the institution, but only four were certified. On the second try, around 60% passed, but the test is apparently quite challenging. The high-end Takano Chronometer, which will be produced in 100 pieces per year, will be meticulously finished and sold for 880,000 yen (tax included).

Video Table of Contents

00:00 Opening
00:17 Introduction of Hajime Asaoka
00:57 Revival of the legendary brand "Takano"
03:01 Obtaining the chronometer certificate is a never-ending struggle to make the "Takano Chronometer" a reality
05:05 How many watches can actually be tested? The inside story of chronometer testing at the National Observatory of Besançon
06:56 What motivated you to get a chronometer?
06:05 Price of the highly anticipated "Takano Chronometer" announced
08:02 New "Takano" Discusses future variations
09:35 Are creators and CEOs essentially the same?
11:13 Made in Japan, breaking into the global luxury watch industry
13:40 Creator Hajime Asaoka's Perspective: What is Happiness in Watchmaking?
19: 50 ending

BEST ISHIDA Presents Kronos Japan Edition Tick Tock Talk♪ Program Details

　This program features Masamasa Hirota, editor-in-chief of the watch magazine Chronos Japan, engaging in deep and passionate discussions with guests about watches. Through stories about their encounters with watches and their favorite watches, the program unravels the personalities and life stories of the guests.

　The latest episode of the program can be viewed via the radiko link below.

https://radiko.jp

Program website:https://audee.jp/program/show/300005808
Message form:https://www.tfm.co.jp/f/ticktocktalk/message

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