Hublot hosted a gala dinner at the Park Hyatt Tokyoon September 12, 2014, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland, and unveiled 15 special pieces from the “Aero Bang All White Special Edition”. On the case back of the watch was inspired by the “miracle lone pine tree.”
More than 150 guests attended Hublot’s gala dinner and enjoyed a fusion between Swiss, Japan, and Hublot: A special performance by the calligrapher Shishu, who created the design on the case back, Swiss wines especially selected for Hublot by Office des Vins Vaudois (OVV) and the world’s best sommelier Paolo Basso, a fusion concept dinner, and a jazz performance. In addition, Hublot Chairman and President of the Watch Division at LVMH Watch & Jewelry Jean-Claude Biver and the chairman of the OVV Pierre Keller attended and celebrated the occasion.
One of the 15 pieces of “Aero Bang All White Special Edition” with the “miracle lone pine tree” special case back with a number 00/15 was auctioned off at the gala dinner along with a work by Shishu.
The profit from the auction and a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the 14 remaining watches, and the amount of recent charity activities totaling approximately 10 million Japanese yen will be donated to the “Kamiosabe no Sato” who maintains the temporary playground at Kesen Elementary School in Kesen-mach i Kamiosabe in the city of Rikuzentakata. This playground with year round green turf was created by locals, whose effort was initiated by a former national football player Hisashi Kato, to benefit the children and people living in the area. After the auction, a potof plant with a turf and an Hublot desk alarm clock were presented by Hublot Chairman Jean-Claude Biver to Mr. Hisashi Kato as a representative gift of the donation.
The comprehensive and calculated design – a steel case with a daring façade with sides made out of composite resin; a strap that is accented with red double-stitching that combines white rubber with calfskin leather; the automatic chronograph movement that can be seen in the half skeleton dial finished by skilled Swiss craftsmen –creates a timepiece that is luxurious yet also sporty. Sapphire glass was used for the case back, which includes an inscription written by Shishu that was inspired by the ”miracle lone pine tree.” A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the “Kamiosabe no Sato” who maintains the temporary grounds at Kesen Elementary School in Kesen-machi Kamiosabe in the city of Rikuzentakata.
Shishu sublimates traditional Japanese writing into art – as paintings, calligraphy, media art and sculpture – to express her intentions and holds exhibitions around the world. Her representative works include Ryomaden and Bi no Tsubo for NHK; JAPAN for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Cool Japan for Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; an event to commemorate the removal of a shrine at Ise Shrine; and an event to commemorate the reconstruction of Kasuga Taisha.
