KIH's detailed photo report from the A. Lange & Söhne Cherry Blossom Night in Tokyo offers a vibrant look into a unique brand event. This post highlights the deep connection between Lange and its Japanese collectors, showcasing not just exquisite timepieces but also the cultural appreciation for fine watchmaking. Readers gain insight into how Lange cultivates loyalty and celebrates its heritage in a global context.

It is a bit later than average but the Cherry Blossom is full blown this weekend in Tokyo.  Thanks to ALS Japan & Boutique, we were invited to a special Cherry Blossom Night + Wonderful Spring Japanese Dinner + Special speech by Mr. Takeshi Matsuyama, a journalist who made Lange known to Japanese connoisseur for the first time in early to mid 90s.

Now, the event starts (apologies for poor pics - I am having what I call "camera elbow" and could only brought a P&S):

Mr. Peter Kesselmann, Brand CEO, A. Land & Sohne (Japan), before going out.

Cherry Blossom at night with light-up;

Ah, very Japanese.... nice fusion...

Dinner:

Illustration by Mr. Matsuyama, too.

Cheers speech by Mr. Kesselmann

Now time for our eyes and mouth to enjoy the meal

Then, the WATCHES...

Light wrist shots of the gentlemen nearby:

One non-Lange piece, but can't help showing here - FPJ Piece Unique, commemorating Kamine (AD in the western region) 100th anniversary.

And another back shot of what?.....

From here on, it was utterly chaos....

First up - 2/100 and 2/15 in the world on one table - wow....

Then, PG Roman Numeral Trio:

And, MOP Guilloche brothers:

Next, guilloche brothers:

Chronograph quintet:

Lange 1 Tourbillon HG Quartet:

And finally, the fat lady sings with HG chorus:

Last unique piece as the dessert....

The man who brought order to chaos, Mr. Takeshi Matsuyama, spoke a bit about him and Lange, Mr. Gunther Blumlein, etc. and Interesting episodes and trivia:

- He had been good friends with Mr. Blumlein since his days at IWC and had deeply penetrated Swiss watch industry as a journalist - at SIHH 1993, Mr. Blumlein pulled him into the secret compartment behind the curtain and showed a few of the "New Lange" prototypes - Mr. Matsuyama was impressed with the "resurrection" of the brand, but honestly thought the samples were "too German".  But he is glad his first impression was wrong, having seen those crazy, I mean, sophisticated collectors, the spirit of German ALS has reached the hearts of the Japanese connoisseurs.

- Back then, IWC, JLC, and the new Lange were in the Mannesmann group.  And what a coincidence, Mr. Walter Lange was working for one of the Mannesmann companies and Mr. Lange agreed to join the team.  The stage and the actors were then all gathered up there.

- The new Lange started selling the watches only in the German speaking region - Zurich, Austria, Germany.  Mr. Matsuyama thought that it was the marketing strategy to expand the point of sales by seeing the reaction and perhaps word of mouth waves.

- Fusee Chain - he asked many Swiss manufacture whether they can make it, but the answers were "yes, but it doesn't make any sense".  Mr. Blumlein insisted making it and he did it - the original Lange Tourbillon PLM.  It was sort of his "challenge" to the Swiss (or French speaking) watch industry.  But make no mistake, Lange is not made only in Germany.  It has and needs Swiss parts, too.  Lange is a German brand, but it is the collaboration of German and Swiss watch industry.

Q: what do you think of Lange today?

A: I think it is doing good German way, whether you like it or not.  I was impressed, for example, by Zeitwerk, "ah, this is how German makes a digital watch.

Thank you, Mr. Matsuyama for the informative speech and Q&A session with me.

Lastly, the latest LE, the smallest number of LE of ALS' entire history including shop LE - 15, on my wrist.  Thank you for letting me, Mr. owner.

Hope you, too, enjoyed the dinner and watch craze as well as the interesting episodes of ALS in the 90s.

Special thanks to:

Mr. Takeshi Matsuyama

Mr. Peter Kesselmann and A. Lange & Sohne Japan staff, Tokyo Boutique staff

Happoen - Kochuan Restaurant for nice dinner, and nice big garden well lit- up for night stroll.

Thank you for reading.

Ken