Kamen Rider Agito celebrates its 25th anniversary and gets a movie adaptation! What kind of watch does lead actor Jun Kaname cherish?

The Kamen Rider series, which was born in 1971, is celebrating its 55th anniversary. As a commemorative work, "Kamen Rider Agito," which boasts the highest average viewership rating in the history of Heisei Kamen Rider, will be made into a movie again after 25 years. The lead role will, of course, be played by Jun Kaname. This time, we will focus on the "Sky Chief Chronograph" from the long-established Swiss brand Favre-Leuba, which he uses regularly.

After 25 years, Kamen Rider Agito is becoming a movie again.

　The Kamen Rider series, which began airing in 1971, celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. The movie "Agito - Superpower War -" was produced as a commemorative work to mark this milestone.

　Originally, "Agito" was a tokusatsu television drama that aired every Sunday from January 2001 to January 2002. It was a work commemorating the 30th anniversary of Kamen Rider and is the second work in the Heisei Kamen Rider series. It also included scenes that could be interpreted as an homage to "Kamen Rider V3," the second work in the Showa Kamen Rider series, and the inclusion of various features that could be enjoyed by both new and old fans was likely a factor in its success.

　Another noteworthy point is that it was the first to adopt a style in which multiple Kamen Riders stand side-by-side as main characters, making it a milestone that had a significant influence on subsequent Kamen Rider works. Above all, it is remembered as the work that holds the record for the highest average viewership rating in the history of Kamen Rider since the Heisei era, a record that remains unbroken.

　One of the main actors was Jun Kaname. He played Makoto Hikawa/Kamen Rider G3—a police inspector who is transferred to the SAUL (Unidentified Lifeform Countermeasures Unit) and is a hot-blooded man who confronts the mysterious lifeforms known as "Unknowns" head-on.

　And in this film, she will be co-starring with Toshiki Kashu, who co-starred with her in the original, returning to the screen in the same role after 25 years. With the addition of new characters and attention also focused on Yuuchami, who is making her film debut in this movie, the film has been generating buzz even before its release.

From working multiple part-time jobs to becoming Kamen Rider G3

　Jun Kaname's entry into the entertainment industry was through a segment on the variety show "Waratte Iitomo!". The segment, called "Kanban Otoko Collection," which aired around 1999, involved recruiting so-called "handsome staff" working in the city from the general public and inviting them to the studio. At the time, Jun Kaname was working multiple part-time jobs, and he was approached by the show's staff while on shift at an izakaya (Japanese pub). Incidentally, there is an anecdote that he appeared on the show not as an izakaya employee but as a security guard because "the security guard uniform looks cooler," and he won the first episode in 1999.

　Jun Kaname was originally dedicated to track and field. He was serious about it, even aiming for the Olympics, but his career came to an end when he fell and was disqualified in the Shikoku regional interscholastic championships final. After graduating from high school, he decided to pursue acting. During his early years, he worked multiple part-time jobs—at a bento shop, on a factory line, as a security guard—while continuing to audition, and he even suffered from hematuria due to overwork. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his dream, and it was while working part-time at an izakaya (Japanese pub) that he was scouted by an entertainment agency, which became the turning point that allowed him to seriously begin his acting career.

　In 2001, he made his debut as Makoto Hikawa/Kamen Rider G3 in "Kamen Rider Agito," quickly gaining attention. He also made his film debut that same year in "Kamen Rider Agito: Project G4." Since then, he has expanded his activities to daytime dramas, commercials, and variety shows, and has appeared in NHK's serial dramas "Manten" and "Manpuku." Currently, he lives in both Los Angeles and Japan while continuing his acting career.

A watch I never let go of, even during the filming of the drama. My connection with Favre-Leuba.

　One of Jun Kaname's favorite watches is the Favre-Leuba Sky Chief Chronograph. Proof of this can be seen in this video posted on his official YouTube channel, titled "Jun Kaname's Surreal Daily Life #surreal daily life#".

A classic chronograph from a long-established brand boasting a history dating back to the 18th century.

　Favre-Leuba is a long-established Swiss watch brand founded in 1737 by Abraham Favre. It has also demonstrated a strong presence in innovation in mechanical watches, being one of the first to adopt double barrels in automatic movements in the 1960s. The current collections are all inspired by the heritage of the 1950s and 60s, and are characterized by their incorporation of modern innovations in manufacturing methods and materials, rather than simply being reproductions.

　The brand has two signature collections. One is the "Raider Collection," which features distinctive hands and an eye-catching 14-sided bezel. The other is the "Chief Collection," which includes the model favored by Jun Kaname. The Chief Collection has two lines: the "Sky Chief Date" and the "Sky Chief Chronograph."

　The "Sky Chief Chronograph" worn by Jun Kaname features a classic bi-compax layout with two sub-dials: a 30-minute counter and a small seconds subdial. It is characterized by a date display at the 6 o'clock position and faceted indices inspired by the brand's vintage models from the 1960s and 70s, resulting in a timepiece that combines high legibility with intellectual elegance. Its 100m water resistance makes it ideal for active use.

　The movement used is based on the ETA 7753. This highly reliable automatic chronograph movement boasts 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours, and has a proven track record of being used by many luxury watch brands. This model is currently discontinued, and is only available on the vintage market. The Japanese import agent has also changed since its inception; for details on successor models, please contact the current authorized dealer directly.

　Let's get back to the point. 25 years after playing the passionate character of Makoto Hikawa, Jun Kaname returns to the screen with that character once again. Makoto Hikawa, who, though clumsy, faced the Unknown more earnestly than anyone else, somehow overlaps with Jun Kaname's own early days of struggling, when he worked multiple part-time jobs while continuously auditioning. And the Favre-Leuba Sky Chief Chronograph that he continued to wear on his wrist throughout the drama filming and even while shooting YouTube videos—that watch, too, is a silent witness that has accompanied him through many years.

　What kind of depth has 25 years brought to actor Jun Kaname, and what kind of complexity has it brought to Makoto Hikawa...? I eagerly await the release of the film "Agito - Psychic Warfare -".