What Franck Muller watch does Nakai Masahiro love to wear?

What kind of watches do top celebrities choose? Celebrity Watch Hunting is a serial column that takes a snapshot of celebrities from around the world. This time, we'll be focusing on the watch worn by former SMAP member and TV personality, Masahiro Nakai!

中居正広

　Born August 18, 1972, Nakai Masahiro hails from Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture. He joined Johnny & Associates at the age of 14 and two years later formed the male idol group "SMAP" with fellow talents Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Katsuyuki Mori, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori. He began hosting shows in his 20s, and at age 25, he became the youngest ever White Team host of the "NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen." He was a pioneering figure in the entertainment industry at a young age. He left Johnny & Associates at the end of March 2020 and became independent, but the unusual fact that he continued to appear on all of his regular programs demonstrates just how important Nakai is to the entertainment industry.

　Nakai has long been known as a watch enthusiast. On February 21, 2020, at his press conference announcing his departure from Johnny & Associates, he was wearing a vintage Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016, which became a hot topic. He also gave an Explorer to comedian Tomonori Jinnai, and is known to have given watches to his juniors from his time at Johnny & Associates.

　There was one major reason why the Explorer was so prominently featured at the press conference: Nakai had generally worn a white Chanel J12 when appearing in public up until that point. Speculation swirled about Nakai's state of mind as he appeared at the press conference wearing the Explorer, a keepsake from his father.

　During his television appearances, Nakai has also been seen wearing watches such as the Hermès Dressage and the Louis Vuitton Tambour. Nakai could certainly afford a more expensive watch, but his choice of a more affordable one reflects his personality, and some say this is one of the reasons he is popular with a wide range of people.

　One of Nakai's watch preferences seems to be models that combine individuality with a sporty taste. The watch he was wearing when he appeared in uniform as an official supporter at the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC), as seen in the photo we picked out this time, is speculated to be a Franck Muller "Tonneau Curvex Master Banker" based on the shape of the case side.

Franck Muller "Tonneau Curvex Master Banker"

　The Master Banker is a unique watch that displays the time in three countries or regions at once by displaying the second and third time zones on two small dials. It was created in 1996 when brand founder Franck Muller received a request from a banker friend who said, "I want a watch that allows me to instantly read the time in the world's financial markets."

　On February 9, 2021, it was reported that Masahiro Nakai, along with Shingo Katori and Ayumi Hamasaki, received the Dark Blue Ribbon Medal. The award is given to those who donate their personal assets to the public good. Nakai, along with Katori and others, supported those suffering from the COVID-2 pandemic and medical workers.

　He was also seen humorously opening up about the harsh experiences he had had as a business owner after going independent, his inability to secure TV commercial contracts, and the frustration of being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic just when things were looking up. Despite some sense of impatience, a new side of him emerged, as he was facing social contribution.