92-year-old Takagi Boo loves his Rolex GMT Master II and Seiko. Two watches surely filled with memories.

The Drifters, celebrating their 60th anniversary, are holding a commemorative exhibition across Japan, attracting huge crowds. Among them is 92-year-old Boo Takagi, who continues to exude presence as a ukulele player, splitting his time between Hawaii and Japan. His Rolex GMT-Master II, which displays the time in two locations simultaneously, and his Seiko fashion watch, exuding elegance, offer insight into the life and passion for music of this great Showa era star.

The Drifters, the great Showa era star back in the spotlight

　The Drifters were a national comedy group that brought brilliance to the Showa era. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of their formation, the "60th Anniversary of The Drifters Exhibition: Unearthing! The Laughter and Hidden Treasures of Five Men" is touring department stores and event halls across the country, generating a great response. With only two venues remaining, fans of all ages are flocking to the venues, with wait times of up to two hours to get in.

　The Drifters were originally formed as a music band in 1956. Their predecessor was the rockabilly band Sons of Drifters. They then went on to form the Drifters with Hiroshi Inoue and the Drifters with Teruo Sakurai, before switching from rock and roll to a comic band. They then changed their name to The Drifters with Choichi Ikariya, and after adding new members, in 1964 they made a full-fledged transition to a comedy group under the name The Drifters.

　1964 is generally considered to be the year The Drifters were formed, and 2024 will mark their 60th anniversary. The five members of the band during their golden age were Ikariya Chosuke, Takagi Boo, Nakamoto Koji, Kato Cha, and Shimura Ken. This lineup continued for a long time, but with the death of Ikariya Chosuke, the band became a four-member group. Then, with the passing of Shimura Ken and Nakamoto Koji, the band now consists of 82-year-old Kato Cha and 92-year-old Takagi Boo.

Passion for music. And Takagi Boo became a ukulele player.

　The Drifters' greatest achievement as a band was opening for The Beatles' Japan tour in 1966. This led to them releasing a number of parodies of popular Japanese songs, including comic songs, folk songs, and military songs. In 1970, they won the Popularity Award at the 12th Japan Record Awards, and in the same year, they won the Broadcasting Music Award at the 1st Japan Record Awards for their song "Dorifu no Zundoko Bushi."

　After that, they got more comedy work, but each of them continued their individual musical activities. Takagi Boo formed the Kobucha Band with Kato Cha and Nakamoto Koji, and released the maxi single "Kobucha Rumba" (a parody of "Coffee Rumba") in 1999.

　Takagi Boo says that when he was a child, he listened to jazz melodies and felt an exhilarating feeling that made his body move naturally. For him, music must be life itself. "It may have been jazz records that led me down the path of music," he recalled in an interview.

　He has also been active as a ukulele player for many years, and was honored by Living National Treasure Ruby Wright Kawena Johnson, a direct descendant of King Kamehameha I of Hawaii and professor at the University of Hawaii, who recognized his contributions to spreading Hawaiian culture through his ukulele activities, bestowing on him the Hawaiian name "Hoakokua," which means "to help and support friends, to share spirits" in Hawaiian.

　Takagi's first encounter with the ukulele began when he received one as a gift from his third brother on his 15th birthday. Since then, he has developed a deep knowledge of Hawaiian music and has worked part-time performing at various U.S. military camps and clubs in Ginza. Takagi's ukulele skills are considerable, and in March 2008 he was invited to perform as the first professional performer at the Waikoloa Ukulele Festival, Hawaii's highest honor. The following year, in 2009, he performed a 30-minute solo stage performance, and again in 2020.

Wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II

　During The Drifters' extremely busy schedule, the group apparently referred to 3pm as "Drift Time." This comes from the fact that the Drifters' workday generally began at 3pm. Even now that the group is down to just two members, Takagi Boo's thoughts as a Drifter member may still race through his mind at 3pm.

　We discovered the watch that Takagi Boo loves to wear in a post on his official Instagram account.

　Boo Takagi commutes between Hawaii and Japan, honing his skills as a ukulele player. It is interesting that he has chosen a GMT model, which is highly practical for his lifestyle.

　The Rolex GMT-Master was born in 1955 as a timepiece for professionals and is still beloved today as part of a special collection. The first model was developed in response to a request from Pan American World Airways. Its high legibility, combined with the ability to simultaneously display local time and a second time zone thanks to its GMT hand and rotating bezel, made it a popular choice among general users as well.

　After further improvements, the GMT-Master II was released in 1982 as its successor. The current model features a bezel made of UV-resistant high-tech ceramic with a Cerachrom insert, giving it a lustrous finish and high scratch resistance. While it is available in a variety of colors, the model worn by Takagi Boo is thought to be the red-and-black bezel model nicknamed "Coke" due to its color, a color that many hope will be revived.

Seiko fashion watches mark the time leisurely while strengthening the bonds between members

　Additionally, in a post from the International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii 2025, he was seen wearing a Seiko watch.

　This watch, with its large, pop-style index numbers, is part of a collection known as the "Seiko Fashion Watch." It is a model in the "2140" series, which was designed as a casual, easy-to-use watch in response to the increasing individuality and diversity of young people's clothing. It's a selection that is typical of Takagi Boo, who is modest, gentle-mannered, and true to his true self, even among the Drifters.

　Now that I think about it, the large, rounded numerals and the relaxed image that permeates the entire dial seem to overlap with the sound of the ukulele, which Takagi Boo loves. It's a watch that exudes elegance and is very much like him.

　Both watches are not current models, but models released in the past. Takagi Boo will likely continue to wear these watches, along with the many memories he has from his time in showbiz. I'd love to hear some stories about them.

The bond between the members entrusted to the 3pm "Drift Time"

　The Drifters are an indispensable presence when talking about the entertainment world of the Showa era. Each member had their own distinctive personality, but now only two remain: Kato Cha and Takagi Boo. However, the Drifters' humor still has a universal appeal that remains unchanged even today.

　We hope that Takagi Boo will continue to share his kind smile and the beautiful sound of his ukulele. We also hope that the bond between the members that is embodied in the 3pm "Drifters Time" will continue forever.