Chapter 2 TOYOTA BLADE × Hideki Togi × Koji Ozawa | The Car and Watch Chosen by the Discerning 'Unconventional Adult'

Chapter 2 TOYOTA BLADE MOVIE

Hideki Togi × Koji Ozawa

Cars and Watches: A Conversation with the Unconventional

Gagaku Musician Hideki Togi—
Automotive Journalist Koji Ozawa—
In Chapter 2, we present a movie featuring a discussion between two "unconventional" individuals with a passion for cars and watches. This conversation, originally featured in ENGINE magazine, centers on the Toyota Blade and timepieces.

Photography by Kazuaki Ono

The Toyota Blade and Watches—What Makes Them So Appealing?

Fundamentally, cars are tools for transportation, and watches are for telling time. Yet, for certain cars and wristwatches, they become indispensable items for the "unconventional" individual—one who is conscious of a refined lifestyle, meticulous about every aspect of their life, on and off duty, and understands true value. Beyond their mechanical nature, these items resonate deeply with their inner selves.

Gagaku musician Hideki Togi and motor journalist Koji Ozawa. These two "unconventional" figures, each at the forefront of their respective fields, discuss the allure of the Toyota Blade—a car that distills "quality" into a minimalist, compact body—and the appeal of wristwatches, which similarly house intricate movements within minimalist cases. They also delve into the nature of adult discernment.

This movie content has been taken down.

Win a Watch Selected by Hideki Togi

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Small Seconds & Date

The "Vintage 1945," with its distinctive rectangular case, is a celebrated rectangular watch from the "Girard-Perregaux" brand. This "Vintage 1945 Small Seconds & Date" model, released in 2004 with refinements, follows the taste of the original launched in 1945. By placing the small seconds at the 9 o'clock position and the date between 1 and 2 o'clock, its legibility is enhanced. The gently curved case and long lugs offer a remarkably comfortable fit on the wrist. It is a timepiece that showcases the brand's manufacturing prowess and sophisticated design. Self-winding mechanical movement, stainless steel case and bracelet, ¥777,000.
Girard-Perregaux (Sowind Japan) Tel. 03-5211-1791

Win a "Girard-Perregaux 1945" (new) worn by Hideki Togi.
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TOGI Hideki
Gagaku musician. Born in Tokyo in 1959. Debuted with "Hideki Togi" (1986). Received the 15th Gold Disc Award for "Gagaku" (2000) and the Japan Record Award for Planning for "TOGISM2" (2000). Has received numerous other Gold Disc Awards for his albums. Awarded the New Artist Prize of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Active across a wide range of media, including music for TV programs, commercials, and stage productions. His international career is also notable, with performances at World Heritage sites such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia. He has also demonstrated his multifaceted talent by illustrating picture books and appearing as Emperor Kōmei in the NHK historical drama "Atsuhime." His latest album is "Hideki Togi / Earth," released on July 22, 2009.

OZAWA Koji
Automotive journalist. Jury member for the Japan Car of the Year award. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. After working for a certain automobile manufacturer, he joined the editorial department of the automotive magazine "NAVI" (Genkosha). He then became a freelance automotive journalist, active in specialized magazines such as ENGINE (Shinchosha) as well as general publications. He has authored numerous books, including "12 Amazing People in the Car World" (Shinchosha Shinsho), "How to Love Japanese Cars" (Shogakukan), and "Forceful Talk About Cars" (co-authored, Shogakukan). He currently hosts the unique automotive program "Understeer" (TOKYO MX, Saturdays 23:00~) and is active across a wide range of media. He also possesses deep knowledge of mechanical wristwatches.