Nikon DF and 58mm F1.4, Grand Celebration, Special Tokyo Meeting

Special Tokyo Meeting

As you know, Nikon Df was released newly on November 28, 2013.
And Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G was released newly on October 31, 2013.
Nikon fans in the world are very much interested in them.
The Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo held the special reception party, in order to celebrate the new release of these historical new products.

December 14, 2013.
Tokyo is nice winter. Fine Saturday.
Now, I would like to show you the situation of a grand celebration.
Please enter from a main gate entrance.

Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, Tokyo

Baron Toranosuke Furukawa's Residence
(Otani Art Museum, Western-style Residence)

The following members planned and performed the special reception party.

- Akihiko Suzuki, a Nikon F Specialist
- Michio Akiyama, a Industrial Nikkor Lenses Specialist

The special reception party was held at the Kyu-Furukawa Residence in Tokyo.
The building was built as Baron Toranosuke Furukawa's residence in 1917. The Kyu-Furukawa Residence is famous as a historic building in Tokyo.

Very Beautiful Kyu-Furukawa Residence 1917

Akihiko Suzuki waiting for the guest

Today is Nikon Kenkyukai's day

The Nikon Kenkyukai held the party at the residence.
Our guests are as follows.

NIKON Corporation
- Tetsuro Goto, Nikon Fellow, General Manager, Imaging Product & D Laboratory
- Kosho Miura, Senior Executive Staff, Reserch, Imaging Product & D Laboratory
- Kohei Kawaji, Executive Staff, Imaging Product & D Laboratory
- Hotsumi Ihara, , Imaging Product & D Laboratory
- Haruo Sato, Executive Staff, Development Headquarters

Other Fields
- Koichi Sasakihara, TOP WING Corporation, CEO
- Mayumi Kobayashi, Leica Shop Japan, General manager

Entrance Hall

The Main Conference Room for the Celebration

Attention:
Photography in the Kyu-Furukawa residence is forbidden.
The photographs published in this website were permitted from the Otani museum foundation by a special written application. Therefore, you are prohibited from re-using the photographs and articles.

Dr. Toshikatsu Otani and Preservation of Cultural Property

Before the meeting, the member and guest of the Nikon Kenkyukai toured the inside of residence. The interior of residence was maintained in very good condition.

Brilliant Light from Old Window

Akihiko Suzuki introduced Dr. Toshikatsu Otani to the participant

Inspection tour was completed and we took a seat in the main dining room.
Michio Akiyama explained the outline of the reception party and he introduced the guest to the participant.
Furthermore, Akihiko Suzuki introduced Dr. Toshikatsu Otani to the participant.
Dr. Otani is the chief director of Otani Art Museum Foundation. Moreover, he is an emeritus professor of Nihon University. He is a management representative of Kyu-Furukawa Residence. And Dr. Otani is the longtime Nikon fan!!

Dr. Toshikatsu Otani
The Chief Director of OTANI ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION,
Emeritus Professor of Nihon University

The Lecture About the Japanese Culture and the Pride of Japanese

Dr. Otani's lecture started.

This western-style residence and garden were designed by British architect Josiah Conder (1852-1920) who played an active part in the Meiji and Taisho eras.
Conder paid major contributions to the development of architecture in Japan, working on projects such as the Iwasaki residence, the Rokumeikan, and Nikolai Cathedral.

And Dr. Otani told about the tale of great restoration of the Furukawa residence.
It required for restoration of Furukawa residence for seven years.

Dr. Otani's Very Exciting Lecture

Coffee Break

Dr. Otani prepared to us very nice sweets and coffee.
A delicious cake and coffee are required in order to hear the exciting Nikon story.

Yes, Coffee Break

The Sweets from Dr. Otani

DEMEL Wien

Nikon Goto Laboratory

The Nikon Kenkyukai invited the super designers who developed Nikon Df and Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G.

Mr. Tetsuro Goto began his Nikon Df presentation

Tetsuro Goto

Yes, That's right, it is Nikon Goto Laboratory!!.

Mr. Tetsuro Goto, Fellow Tetsuro Goto joined Nikon in 1973. He was first engaged in the design of the electric circuit of the Nikon F3. From there he progressed to a leadership role in electrical circuit design for the Nikon F4, and a product leader role for the Nikon F5.
Then, he moved to the Development Headquarters of the Imaging Company, as a general manager in command of the development of digital SLR cameras up to the Nikon D3 series, as well as Nikkor lenses, compact digital cameras, software and more.
In 2004, he became an operating officer, and in 2007, vice president of the Imaging Company. In 2009, he was inaugurated as a Fellow and launched the Imaging Product R & D Laboratory (Goto Laboratory).

Mr. Tetsuro Goto with a Very Powerful Presentation

Is It Nikon's Top Secret?

When the Imaging Product R & D Laboratory (Goto Laboratory) was established in 2009, we considered carefully about something with "DNA OF NIKON".
We found through our own analysis that Nikon has been unique in analog technologies such as optics, mechanism, camera operation, images.
We decided to incorporate factors that difficult to describe in words such as appearance, operational feeling, shutter sounds into the new Nikon product.

Mr. Goto makes clear points about "What is DNA OF NIKON ?"

Mr. Goto's presentation and joins in on the discussion

Detailed description of Nikon Df

Mr. Kosyo Miura's lecture started continuously. As you know, Mr. Kosyo Miura is a product manager of NIKON Df. He told us the very pleasant episode about development of a Df camera. The details of the function of Nikon Df were very interesting for the Nikon fan.

Mr. Kosyo Miura with a Very Sociable Presentation

Kosyo Miura

The Nikon Kenkyukai member who already purchased Nikon Df with AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G was also in the meeting room.
Then, Mr. Miura passed his Df camera to all the members suddenly. His Nikon Df, Yes, It was a special pre-massproduction model!!

Dr. Otani showed interest to the Miura's Nikon Df

Mr. Kosyo Miura and Old Japan's Winter Sunset

Mr. Kosho Miura's lecture thrilled the audience.
A camera lover told the camera. A Nikon lover told the Nikon. Also fortunately, we experienced this historical great lecture.

Mr. Miura makes clear points about feature and technology of the Nikon Df

AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G

The history of Nikon cameras has always gone hand in hand with the history of NIKKOR lenses. Haruo Sato and Kouichi Ohshita will alternately add chapters to the serial story: "The Thousand and One Nights" of Nikkor lenses. Randomly selected topics covering the unique NIKKOR lenses will feature interesting tales on the design and manufacturing.

Mr. Haruo Sato is an author of "The Thousand and One Nights" of Nikkor lenses. And also he is the great designer who designed many wonderful Nikkor lenses.
That's right yes, Mr. Haruo Sato designed this AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G lens.

Mr. Goto and Mr. Miura Introduced Mr. Haruo Sato

Mr. Haruo Sato and His Designed AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G

Haruo Sato

Mr. Haruo Sato with a Very Dynamic Presentation

I developed the AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G inheriting the basic design concept of the Noct Nikkor, but my aim was not to produce a "modern version of Noct Nikkor".
This lens is the fruit of my strong desire in the development of various lenses over a long time to realize a lens that enables most comfortable image creation.
NIKKOR celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2013. The intensity of thoughts from our predecessors and tradition of long history are concentrated into NIKKOR.
I am confident that this lens can be a very individual addition to the lineup of NIKKOR, albeit not the most powerful.
I hope our customers regard the AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G as a "plus-factor lens" or "must-have lens".

Mr. Sato Showed the Professional Photographer's Work

All You Need is the Dream Lens

Nikon Kenkyukai's Presentation

Mr. Ryu Koakimoto, a professional photojournalist, introduced some interesting photos to us. He told about old Nikon cameras and old historical photographs.

Mr. Ryu Koakimoto Told About Old NIKON and Old Photographs

Mr. Koakimoto explained the Japanese airplane and camera which played an active part in the 1940s from the 1930s.

Kamikaze-go was a Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane aircraft, (registration J-BAAI) sponsored by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It became famous on April 9, 1937 as the first Japanese-built aircraft to fly from Japan to Europe. The flight from Tokyo to London took 51 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds and was piloted by Masaaki Iinuma (1912-1941), with Kenji Tsukagoshi (1900-1943) serving as navigator.
When Mr. Koakimoto is a young boy, he has experience hugged by Mr. Masaaki Iinuma at the airfield !!

Mr. Ryu Koakimoto with a Very Friendly Presentation

Yuki, Mr. Takayuki Kawai came to Japan from the U.S. for this special party.
Mr. Takayuki Kawai told about his prototype Nikon S2 finder. That rangefinder is devised in order to display a view frame.
His precious result of research was explained by this presentation.

Mr. Takayuki Kawai Told About Prototype Nikon S2 Finder

Mr. Takayuki Kawai with a Very Cool Presentation

Cocktail Party

The presentation session in the main dining room was completed.
And delightful time was prepared for us. We were invited to the cocktail party by Dr. Toshikatsu Otani!! We moved to the second hall.
That was baron Toranosuke Furukawa's private room where chandelier shines. We enjoyed high-class wine and champagne. Of course, the precious cameras and lenses were put on the collection table as hors d'oeuvres.

Cocktail Party

Great Collection Table

YALLU!!

Stereo Nikkor Outfits !!

Nice Group Photo

A Dr. Toshikatsu Otani-sponsored pleasant party was over. All participants enjoyed the great party.

Nice Group Photo

With the Otani Art Museum Curator

Directors

I would like to introduce directors to you.
Akihiko Suzuki, a Nikon F specialist and Michio Akiyama an industorial Nikkor lennses specialist planned and managed this party.

Dr. Otani and Akihiko Suzuki

Dr. Otani and Michio Akiyama

Kyu-Furukawa Residence Old Night

Acknowledgement

Thank you very much for Mr. Tetsuro Goto and Nikon members and special guests.
Thank you very much for your participation for the party of special Tokyo Meeting.

Thank you very much for Dr. Toshikatsu Otani.
We finished our party in great success by your warm mind.

Thank you big much for NIKON and all the NIKON fans.

Attention:
Photography in the Kyu-Furukawa residence is forbidden.
The photographs published in this website were permitted from the Otani museum foundation by a special written application. Therefore, you are prohibited from re-using the photographs and articles.