Comments:
Montblanc DOES know how to throw a party!
Last month, I received a mysterious invitation from Montblanc - asking the guests to come to a small pier not far from the central Tokyo area, along one of the rivers. And they the invitation went on to say "please come to this pier between 18:00 and 18:30, and you will be taken to a secret location for Montblanc summer party event".... I was like "?". Okay, where? Who will be waiting for the guests?
It is the start of humid rainy season and it is a very good idea to spend some cool time river side, or at least near the water, wherever it may be. Montblanc does this every few years inviting guests, watch collectors, leather goods clients, and some journalists. Really without business, just having the guests have a great time. So nice an idea of Montblanc. And I feel so honored to be invited (I am neither VIP nor journalist 
)
Tokyo just entered the rainy season - so Montblanc prepared "poncho" for us (and it was presented to all the guests after the party - nice).
These are the "ferry" for the guests. On the right is the super sleek "limousine" for VIPs (I am NOT!), and on the left is for the majority of the guests.
The sky cleared up a little and nice sunset light behind the high rise apartment buildings (they are built to withstand the very strong quake - no worry there).
Lots of bridges around here.
And the VIP departed before the rest.
Now we depart, too.
A ticket for entering the "secret" party venue....
Famous "Yakata-fune" which the passengers can sit on "tatami" and enjoy the view/ meals cooked on board. I use it for Cherry Blossom season as well as the firework season. Very, very "Japanese".
Now the clearance for this bridge is so shallow....
.. and the direction we go, the river is totally covered by the metropolitan highways - not so nice. I heard that there is the plan to relocate these highways underground, like Boston....
Found a very nice restaurant along the river. But I didn't know where this was!!
And we were told that we were here - where is this? It's "Nihonbashi" - the name of the place, and the name of this bridge. "bashi" or "hashi" means "bridge". and "Nihon" means Japan. Once upon a time, a few hundreds years ago, this is the starting point to go anywhere in Japan.
Passer-byes are interested in our Montblanc ferry, too
And we got off and went to the nearby party place.
Here is a good friend, Maxime Harrar, Montblanc Japan President, welcoming the guests. On his wrist is 1858 Manual Small Second (with blue NATO band!! - very nice).
Montblanc logos on the wall of the highway (as explained, this is built on top of the river)
You can see highway, river, and Nihonbashi, the bridge.
DJ is playing music.....
Welcome remark by Mr. Harrar.
So many (but so dark, so I couldn't take the "heat" from the guests)
Special guests - famous duo.
New pens were on display.
Montblanc Heritage Collection
This message has been edited by KIH on 2016-06-11 08:38:23
)Here I am - a bit too early and the guests have not gathered yet.
Tokyo just entered the rainy season - so Montblanc prepared "poncho" for us (and it was presented to all the guests after the party - nice).
These are the "ferry" for the guests. On the right is the super sleek "limousine" for VIPs (I am NOT!), and on the left is for the majority of the guests.
The sky cleared up a little and nice sunset light behind the high rise apartment buildings (they are built to withstand the very strong quake - no worry there).
Lots of bridges around here.
And the VIP departed before the rest.
Now we depart, too.
A ticket for entering the "secret" party venue....
Famous "Yakata-fune" which the passengers can sit on "tatami" and enjoy the view/ meals cooked on board. I use it for Cherry Blossom season as well as the firework season. Very, very "Japanese".
Now the clearance for this bridge is so shallow....
.. and the direction we go, the river is totally covered by the metropolitan highways - not so nice. I heard that there is the plan to relocate these highways underground, like Boston....
Found a very nice restaurant along the river. But I didn't know where this was!!
And we were told that we were here - where is this? It's "Nihonbashi" - the name of the place, and the name of this bridge. "bashi" or "hashi" means "bridge". and "Nihon" means Japan. Once upon a time, a few hundreds years ago, this is the starting point to go anywhere in Japan.
Passer-byes are interested in our Montblanc ferry, too
And we got off and went to the nearby party place.
Here is a good friend, Maxime Harrar, Montblanc Japan President, welcoming the guests. On his wrist is 1858 Manual Small Second (with blue NATO band!! - very nice).
Montblanc logos on the wall of the highway (as explained, this is built on top of the river)
You can see highway, river, and Nihonbashi, the bridge.
DJ is playing music.....
Welcome remark by Mr. Harrar.
So many (but so dark, so I couldn't take the "heat" from the guests)
Special guests - famous duo.
New pens were on display.
Montblanc Heritage Collection
Rouge et Noir
Limited Edition
Montblanc Heritage Collection
Montblanc Heritage Collection
Rouge et Noir
Artisan Edition 110
Wow, looks strong....
Thanks to Montblanc, although watches were not there, we had a very good time near the river, center of Tokyo, with lots of friends and friendly Montblanc staff.
Thank you, Montblanc, as always!
Best,
Ken
Hey! I've walked along that bridge and location before
Ken-san,
I was walking with the current Mrs MTF until we got to Nihonbashi and the water dragons back in 2004.
The restaurant location did not look like that then; it was broken riverside warehouses and boat moorings.
Wow! Now its a secret location for Montblanc 
Nice Party and no pressure. Now, I'm missing unagi....I know its a bit early in the season but I love it!
Regards,
MTF
Around Nihonbashi, and the so-called "water front" changed a LOT. River, riverside cleaned up very much.
.. Unagi... It's getting more and more expensive because they are getting less and less of them recent years. But, yes, I eat more than several times per summer ) Great food!
) Great food!
Excellent journalistic coverage of said party.
I went to a small JLC boutique shindig at the Beverly Hills location. Would love to be on the watch party circuit.
Nah, I am not a journalist at all (I don't make a living by that!), but thanks!
... I know how you feel, but I guess making friends with the brand staff would be good ) Only a few brands keep inviting me to these events. Journalists get invited all the time to all the brands events, though.
) Only a few brands keep inviting me to these events. Journalists get invited all the time to all the brands events, though.
That´s one cool party!
Thanks for having taken us along, Ken!
I am quite surprised ( in a good way) that a brand executive decided to give his personal touch to a product the company offers beyond the OEM supplied manner. Kudos to him, and the idea is pure genius! I am sure his 1858 looks killer!
Thanks again, Ken,
Cheers,
Alex
One thing I can say is...
... he LOVES watches. Not that other watch brand executives do not, but he loves what he does and he knows how to best show the watch or what the watch CAN do on/ for your wrist..... Always fun to talk with him about watches. Cool, eh?
Super cool, Ken!
Definitely having people like him makes following a brand much more enjoyable.
Cheers,
Alex
Cheers,
Alex
Awesome! I love the mystique
Many brands have embraced these special events over the years, and us enthusiasts sure appreciate them
So true. But most of the times, they expect to accept orders on the spot :-)) [nt]
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That is the key point. Just having fun time for and with the clients. Very nice of Montblanc. Contradictory, that works much better here for business! [nt]
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Yeah, I don't take the boat to travel from there to there often :-)) Wish the river trip could let us see the sky, too! [nt]
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Montblanc is the master of parties!
looks like a cool one and you had good fun my friend
Thanks for the report!
It's cool to see a 1858 manual small second blue dial on a Nato strap. I think I should look for a nice blue Nato for my 1858 Tachymeter chronograph too
Cheers
Robin
Urayamashiiii
You have all the fun, Ken!
This message has been edited by matthewking on 2016-06-14 02:28:05
Thanks for the party pics
Long time no see. Hope all is well!
This message has been edited by matthewking on 2016-06-14 02:28:05
Gosh, it is way too long time no see! Gotta plan something!
What's that watch? Lovely!
Ken
Ken
Simple big crown
This is actually my first watch that somehow survived through all these years. Mom gave it to me when I went to college <3
A simple big crown, hr/minute + date. I can't remember the model number atm, but it's from 2002 I think. That's Ueno in the background
Yes, let's plan something!
A simple big crown, hr/minute + date. I can't remember the model number atm, but it's from 2002 I think. That's Ueno in the background
Yes, let's plan something!
Thank you Ken for this interesting look into a special invitation.
It feels like we were invited to go with you. A nice thing to see that producers still invite customers on special events and so nice of Montblanc to have done this.