What is the favorite watch of Yasushi Akimoto, who has been active as a broadcast writer since high school?

Celebrity Watch Hunting is a serial column that takes a snapshot of a private moment of a celebrity. This time, we will be looking at the Patek Philippe watch worn by Yasushi Akimoto, a TV writer.

Yasushi Akimoto, a broadcast writer

When you hear the name "Akimoto Yasushi," many people may think of him as the producer of AKB48, but before AKB48 created a sensation, he was more known as a television writer and lyricist. Since the 2000s, he has written the lyrics for most of the songs in his role as producer of the AKB48 group and the Sakamichi Series, but it may not be widely known that he also wrote the lyrics for Misora ​​Hibari's "Like the Flow of a River."

How a boy who wanted to become a Ministry of Finance bureaucrat became a TV writer

　Akimoto Yasushi was born into a family of office workers and had been planning his future since he was in elementary school, saying, "I want to become a Ministry of Finance bureaucrat."

　During the winter of his second year of high school, he was casually listening to Nippon Broadcasting's "Moeyo Senmitsu Ashikake Ni-Nichi Dai Attack" (Burning, Senmitsu's Two-Day Great Advance), which inspired him to write a parody of the Tale of the Heike with Senda Mitsuo as the main character. A classmate who read it recommended that he send it to Nippon Broadcasting.

　His work caught the eye of the deputy director of the production department at Nippon Broadcasting System (later the company's president), who led to him starting a part-time job as a broadcast writer. Even though it was just a part-time job, it's surprising to note that he was earning nearly four times the monthly salary of a salaried worker at the time. The system at the time, where Akimoto's talent wasn't being utilized, with the excuse that "it was just a part-time student job," also feels like a dream come true.

　Her debut as a lyricist was with the song "Takoro Dancing," which was featured in the anime "The Dashing Warrior Muteking" in 1981. The catchy line "Let's dancing, feeling like hot milk" sung by Kumiko Osugi still feels like it could easily have appeared in an AKB48 song.

My motto is "Nothing in life is wasted"

　While it's not easy for anyone to remain active in the entertainment industry and produce hit after hit, it seems that being unconstrained by preconceived notions is key. He also surpassed Aku Yu, who held the number one spot until then, to become the all-time top lyricist in terms of total single sales. While AKB48-related sales account for the majority of his sales, the method of selling CDs with added value (handshake events and voting rights) has been much praised in the marketing world. This is an example of how attaching a different meaning to something, rather than simply selling a "thing," can dramatically change the way sales are generated.

He loves the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A.

　The watch that Yasushi Akimoto loves is the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A. He also owns a Richard Mille watch, but says that this is the one he wears the most and that he keeps it in heavy rotation (that sounds like a clever way of saying it).

　Yasushi Akimoto's watches are often high-end, but what is notable about his selection is that he also uses watches that are practical, such as the Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A.

　It's a watch that fits comfortably on anyone's hand. It's easy to use and retains its appeal over the years, and it seems like he's chosen that kind of watch.