Japanese men's volleyball team player, Makoto Sekita, wears a Tudor "Black Bay Chrono"! He wears the flamingo blue and pink version.

The Japanese men's national volleyball team, affectionately known as "Ryujin NIPPON," is ranked 7th in the world as of May 1, 2026, boasting the highest level of skill in Asia. In recent years, they have consistently ranked in the top 10, including reaching the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics for the first time in 29 years. The Daido Life SV.LEAGUE, which started in the 2024-25 season, has steadily established itself as the top league in Japan after two seasons. At the forefront of Japanese volleyball, one of the most talked-about players right now is Masahiro Sekita of Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, who is hailed as a "genius setter."

Having overcome surgery, I move on to a new stage.

　In May 2025, immediately after the end of the SV League season, Makoto Sekita underwent surgery for posterior ankle impingement syndrome and a lateral ankle ligament injury. It was a positive decision to treat the chronic pain in his right foot at its root and to be in top condition for the next stage. In June of the same year, after the surgery, his transfer to Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, the inaugural champions of the SV League, was announced, and upon joining the team, he made a strong statement saying, "I am determined to do my utmost to help the team grow."

　Even outside the court, Makoto Sekita follows his own path. While still an active player, he organizes a volleyball tournament for elementary school students called the "Makoto Sekita Cup." He insists on a match format rather than a school format because he wants the children to learn a lot from the process of competing. He also spoke of his vision for nurturing the next generation, saying, "I think it would be interesting to target middle school and high school students in the future." While many players start such activities after retirement, Sekita's commitment to fulfilling his promises while still an active player is a testament to his characteristic attitude.

A life dedicated solely to volleyball, a journey as a setter.

　Influenced by his older sister, Makoto Sekita started playing volleyball in the first grade of elementary school. In high school, he participated in the Spring High School Volleyball Tournament and, together with Masahiro Yanagida, who was one year his senior, he helped his school achieve its first championship. At Chuo University's volleyball club, he played on the floor with Yuki Ishikawa, who was two years his junior, and won the Most Valuable Player award at the All Japan University Championship. He steadily developed his talent, gaining international experience at the Universiade as well.

　He has consistently represented Japan since 2016, and was also named to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Men's World Final Qualifying Tournament and Asian Qualifying Tournament. At the Tokyo Olympics, he contributed to Japan reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in 29 years, and at the Paris Olympics, he started in all matches as the main setter. He has consistently played a key role in initiating attacks with his versatile setting skills. He is expected to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 34, and as an experienced playmaker, he is poised to continue his challenge on the world stage.

Instagram spoke about two Tudor

　It was an Instagram post that revealed Masahiro Sekita's favorite watch. Two photos posted with the hashtag "#SekitaFamilyHoliday" show a glimpse into his relaxed private life on his day off. On his wrist, which is simply dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, a watch with a brightly colored dial catches the eye.

　One post features the soft pink "Black Bay Chrono "Pink"" (Ref. M79360N-0019), while the other showcases the striking turquoise blue dial of the "Black Bay Chrono "Flamingo Blue"" (Ref. 79360N-0024). The pink model was released in 2024, and the flamingo blue model in 2025, both recent models that add vibrant color to Tudor's chronograph line.

　The Tudor Black Bay Chrono is a model that combines the historical design codes of chronographs born in the 1970s with the reliable practicality of a professional diver's watch. The movement it houses is the manufacture chronograph Cal.MT5813 (based on Breitling's Cal.01), born from the collaboration between Tudor and Breitling. It is a highly reliable automatic winding movement equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch, and has obtained COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) certification, with a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. It employs a silicon balance spring with excellent magnetic resistance and boasts a professional specification with a 41mm case diameter and 200m water resistance. Attention to practicality is also evident in the use of Tudor's unique "T-fit" clasp on the bracelet, which allows for fine adjustment of the size without tools.

　These two models, combining bold coloring with high practicality, stand out even within Tudor's lineup. And somehow, they seem to resonate with the positioning of Masahiro Sekita, who has forged his own path without being bound by convention. His "#SekitaFamilyHoliday" style, which incorporates a pop-colored watch into a simple outfit of denim and a T-shirt, vividly reflects the contrast between his work and leisure time.

Together with Ryujin NIPPON, let's reach even greater heights.

　For Masahiro Sekita, who has returned from surgery, 2026 will be a year of full-fledged restart. In the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026, the first week of the preliminary round will begin on Wednesday, June 10th (Linyi, China), followed by the second week on Wednesday, June 24th (Orleans, France), and finally the third week will be the Japan round. From Wednesday, July 15th to Sunday, July 19th, he is scheduled to play four matches against Italy, Canada, Belgium, and Argentina at Asue Arena Osaka, a great opportunity to play with the support of a huge home crowd. The final round is scheduled to be held in Ningbo, China from Wednesday, July 29th to Sunday, August 2nd, where he will engage in serious competition against the world's strongest teams while setting his sights on the Los Angeles Olympics.

　Having completely overcome chronic pain, Makoto Sekita has taken on the role of setter for his new team, Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, and last season he made it all the way to the finals. Just like the two vibrant Tudor "Black Bay Chrono" watches that adorn his wrist, let's continue to keep an eye on the further success of this setter who continues to leave a vivid mark on the world of Japanese volleyball.