What watch does new Samurai Japan manager Toshihito Iguchi wear? His deep connection to Franck Muller.

Toshihito Iguchi, known for his leadership and strong character even before turning professional, and who has supported the Chiba Lotte Marines both as a player and manager, has been appointed as the new commander of the Samurai Japan national team. On the day of his inaugural press conference, where he vowed to win a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a Franck Muller watch quietly exuded presence on the wrist of the new manager, Iguchi. His battle as a commander has now begun, a step beyond the silver medal he won as a player 30 years ago.

The story behind the birth of the first-ever manager with Major League experience

　The manager of Samurai Japan (the Japanese national baseball team) is selected by the "Samurai Japan Strengthening Committee," which consists of the commissioner and team representatives from professional baseball. The selection criteria include six requirements, such as experience in international tournaments, name recognition, and communication skills. This year's selection, Tadahito Iguchi, is the first person with Major League experience to become the manager of the Japanese national team. Given the increasing number of Japanese players succeeding in the majors in recent years, having a manager who can empathize with the players' experience will likely be a significant advantage.

　At his inaugural press conference on July 25, 2026, Manager Iguchi was immediately asked to comment on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He called on Japanese players currently playing in Major League Baseball to participate, expressing his desire to lead Samurai Japan together with them. Having won a silver medal as a player at the Atlanta Olympics 30 years ago, his words, "This time, I want to win a medal as a manager," reveal an extraordinary determination.

A talented player who shone even before turning pro.

　In his third year of junior high school, he participated in the national tournament, and at Kokugakuin Kugayama High School, he represented West Tokyo at the Koshien tournament in the summer of his second year (he missed out on participating in both the spring and summer tournaments in his third year). Despite this, he was not drafted by any team upon graduating from high school, but when he went on to Aoyama Gakuin University, Toshihito Iguchi's talent blossomed. He was selected for the Japanese baseball team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and contributed to winning the silver medal. In his second year of university, he became only the second player in the history of the Tohto University League to win the Triple Crown. While at university, he also set the Tohto University League's single-season home run record (12) and the career home run record (24).

　In the 1996 draft, he was selected first overall by the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and entered the professional world with a signing bonus of 100 million yen, performance-based bonuses of 50 million yen, and an estimated annual salary of 13 million yen. He was initially used as the leadoff hitter, but later he was often assigned to the lower part of the batting order. Although there was a year in which his batting average was the lowest in the league, he recorded 21 home runs, ranking 12th in the league, and earned the nickname "the terrifying number 9 hitter."

　In 2000, he suffered a left shoulder injury, which required surgery and forced him to take a long break. At the end of that year, he changed his registered name from his real name, "Tadahito," to "Tadahito," and perhaps this renewed determination paid off, as the following year he established himself as the number three hitter. In addition to winning the stolen base title, he also won the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards.

　In 2004, he chose to become a free agent and announced his intention to play in MLB. He signed a two-year, $4.7 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, and in his first year with the team, he contributed to their league championship and became the fourth Japanese player to appear in the World Series. He then contributed to their World Series victory and received a championship ring. After that, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres before returning to the Phillies. In 2009, he joined the Chiba Lotte Marines. As of July 2016, he was the oldest player in the Pacific League, and on June 20 of the following year, he announced his retirement.

　After retiring as a player, he pursued a career in coaching, serving as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2018 to 2022. His career record was 324 wins, 338 losses, and 30 ties (a winning percentage of .489), with his highest league finish being second place twice. Although he has yet to win a championship, he was highly regarded for his ability to develop young players and his managerial skills.

A connection with Franck Muller, who was born during his time with Lotte.

　In 2022, the final season under manager Iguchi, the Chiba Lotte Marines signed a sponsorship agreement with Franck Muller. The two companies have collaborated on various initiatives, including pink uniforms worn on Mother's Day, stadium productions, and the establishment of the "Franck Muller MVP Award."

　Manager Iguchi himself commented on the introduction of the pink uniforms. He explained the aim of the initiative, saying, "On Mother's Day, a day to reflect on gratitude towards mothers and the time we spend with them, the Chiba Lotte Marines wanted to contribute in some small way to breast cancer awareness, so we decided to create special pink uniforms (again this year) and wear them during games." He then revealed how the collaboration with the brand came about, saying, "When we considered stylish and innovative designs that would be fitting for the Marines, Franck Muller, who proposes enriching time through watchmaking, also agreed to support the Pink Ribbon campaign, and we were able to complete a design that incorporates the Byzantine numerals used in Franck Muller watches into the uniforms."

　The relationship between the two companies has gone beyond a simple sponsorship deal, and has been described through manager Iguchi's own words. This suggests that Iguchi himself has a strong attachment to Franck Muller, and that he continues to use their products even now that he has retired as manager.

The model is wearing the "Vanguard Slim Sfumart" shoes.

　Manager Iguchi will be wearing the Franck Muller "Vanguard Slim Sfumato" watch. It comes in three colors: gray, salmon, and olive, all of which express the rich colors woven from the nature and history of Geneva, and the gentle passage of time.

　The model name "Sfumato" refers to a painting technique that eliminates outlines and uses only soft gradations of light and shadow to create a sense of depth. Inspired by the idea that "straight lines do not exist in nature; everything blends together without boundaries," this technique creates an impressive gradient on the dial that depicts the invisible fluctuations of emotion—the "emotions of time" as each moment transforms into a beautiful memory.

　The dial is given visual depth through a sunray finish, and then enamel paint is sprayed from the outer edge, with multiple layers of color applied by hand using the sfumato coloring technique. After going through 20 layers of enamel paint, repeated firing and polishing are performed to create this deep, dimensional appearance.

The "Vanguard Slim Sfumato" inherits the powerful form of the "Vanguard" while having a case thickness that is 2.8mm slimmer than the previous model. It is evident that, true to the spirit of Director Iguchi, whose motto is "The more fruitful the rice plant, the lower its head bows," he has chosen a watch that is understated yet subtly conveys the brilliance of craftsmanship.

　Now, the first tournament for new manager Iguchi will be the "RAGZAS Asia Professional Baseball Championship 2026" to be held this fall. Furthermore, if they can finish as the top Asian team in the 4th WBSC Premier12 World Baseball Championship to be held in the fall of 2027, they will secure a ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With his four years of experience in Major League Baseball fully utilized in his management, we can expect to see what kind of performance the new Samurai Japan team will deliver. We have high expectations for a strong start under Manager Iguchi's leadership.