A Watch Enthusiast's Life KY: "I first learned about Panerai through a boating magazine."

Panerai has had a strong connection with the sea since its founding. KY, a businessman, has always been a big fan of Panerai watches. As he himself emphasizes, he is not what you would call a "watch lover." He doesn't have the knowledge of a watch enthusiast, nor does he own a large collection of watches to brag about. However, fascinated by the sea, he eventually began to own watches related to the sea, which naturally led him to Panerai. We asked this self-made man to talk about the appeal of the sea, watches, and Panerai.

"Life is like the sea. There are rough days and calm days."

　Rather than watches, there is a man whose love of ships and the sea has led him to collect marine watches. His name is KY, who lives in the west of Japan. KY is not shy about saying that his "work and hobby are the sea," and his life is as wide and deep as the ocean he loves so much.

"My father worked on the sea, so I'd been on boats since I was in junior high school. I'd carry things like luggage. My father loved boats, so he bought a pleasure boat and wanted to build a marina where he could park his own boat. But the economy took a turn for the worse after the oil crisis, so he gave up on his marina plans."

　Mr. K had been in a privileged position for a long time. After graduating from university, he started working in Tokyo.

"I hated crowds and packed trains. That's why I wanted to return to the countryside by the time I was 40. That's when my father contacted me and asked me if I wanted to come work for his company. I didn't like Tokyo, and unlike now, back then you couldn't go against what your parents said."

　As a member of the founding family, Mr. K became involved in the family business. However, at the age of 49, a turning point came.

"My older brother is going to take over the company. I get along well with him, but being in the same company means we have to be careful of each other. So I decided to make my own decisions about my own life."

　Amazingly, Mr. K started his company at the age of 49. I have met many entrepreneurs, but I have never known anyone else who started a company when they were close to turning 50. It's almost like the life of Mori Motonari. Mr. K emphasized:

"You can do anything in your 40s. I started my own company at 49."

　Although he made the bold decision to become independent, his monthly income dropped dramatically from 250 million yen to 80 yen.

"I borrowed 2000 million yen from the bank and asked for an additional 1000 million yen, but they refused. So I decided not to go to the bank until they begged me to lend them money."

　In his first year, his annual sales were 300 million yen. However, by his fourth year, Mr. K had grown his sales to 24 billion yen, which must have been due to his natural business acumen. Having achieved success in business, he decided to fulfill his long-held dream of owning his own pleasure boat. He bought his first one in the third year of his business.

"The boat I own now is my seventh. As the business has grown, I've changed boats. Whenever I buy a new boat, I think about what I'll buy next."

　Inside the pleasure boat that Mr. K loves so much, Panerai instruments are installed.

"I first learned about Panerai through a boating magazine. There were quite a few manufacturers that made instruments for boats, but there weren't many that were cool. I thought Panerai's instruments were cool."

　Mr. K says he wants to own any item related to the sea. He bought a Panerai watch at a boutique in Osaka and has been adding to his collection every year.

"I used to wear Omega watches, but then I wanted a watch that was related to the sea, so I first bought a Corum Admiral's Cup. After I started skin diving, I also got an IWC Aquatimer. I always wear these two when I'm on a boat."

　The pleasure boat owned by Mr. K is an imposing boat measuring approximately 24 meters in length. It is a Moki Craft Long Range 23, a long-range cruiser designed for long-distance voyages.

"I don't do any fishing or go fast, so this boat is fine for me. However, my current boat costs a lot to maintain, including maintenance and storage space. It would cost me as much as a McLaren to do that. My previous boat only cost 800 million yen to maintain."

　Although sighing, Mr. K seemed to be enjoying himself.

"When my children were small, we often went out on a boat as a family. Even now, we stay on the boat every Friday and Saturday. I stopped playing golf on the weekends so that I could have that kind of time. When I have time, I like to park the boat offshore and sleep. It's great to read a book. It's true that it's not cheap, but buying a house doesn't change the scenery. With a boat, you can change it, right? I think of a pleasure boat as a mobile vacation home."

　Mr. K's talk focuses on the sea and boats, but also expands to include cars and watches. He shows us a Frederique Constant runabout. Opening the luxurious box reveals a classic chronograph and a model of another classic boat, the Riva. "I bought this because I wanted the model that came with it. I liked it so much that I ended up buying two." Mr. K says he doesn't own a watch and that his only interest is the sea. However, he casually wears a Panerai Regatta on his wrist. I learned that he recently purchased it.

"Panerai is synonymous with the sea, after all. I bought a Regatta. Of course, even if it's a Panerai, I won't buy it unless I like the design. Also, you can't wear it on a boat. The captain of the Eileen wore it on his wrist, but I would bump into it."

　But Mr. K also had an incredible secret weapon: a Panerai Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanium - 47mm.

"When I was invited to SIHH, (then CEO) Angelo Bonati recommended it to me, so I bought it. I like tourbillons because they make me think of the ocean and space."

　Mr. K, who owns an Italian pleasure boat, drives a McLaren, and owns a Panerai tourbillon, must be what the world would call wealthy, and at the very top of it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bought a tourbillon even if someone recommended it to him. However, the reason he doesn't give off that impression at all is not because he has a philosophical outlook on life, but because he has no interest in anything other than the sea. Mr. K really doesn't talk about anything other than the sea.

"I'm currently in charge of organizing an international yacht rally, and I invite local students to participate to promote international exchange. Unfortunately, there are fewer young people interested in yachts and boats these days. I want people to become familiar with the sea from a young age."

　Mr. K enjoys watches through the ocean, and when asked what kind of watch he wants, he always mentions something ocean-related.

"I'm interested in the new Corum Admiral, because the dial has a deck-like finish. I'd also like a Panerai marine chronometer. It would look cool on a boat. If I come across a good one, I'll buy it."

　However, what is it about Mr. K that has made him so successful? We asked him frankly about the secret.

"First of all, enjoy the hardships. Don't think of hardships as hardships. Life is like the ocean. There are rough days and calm days. Also, think to yourself, if that person can do it, then so can I. And enjoy your work. That will lead to results."

　This is a very insightful answer, typical of a "man of the sea." I have met many different people. However, I don't think there is anyone who suits a marine watch as well as Mr. K. A watch tells a lot about a person.