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The FHH makes a hit in Japan
Exhibitions

The FHH makes a hit in Japan

Thursday, 20 March 2014
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Christophe Roulet
Editor-in-chief, HH Journal

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Switzerland and Japan are this year celebrating the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between their two countries, a bond that was further reinforced in 2009 by a free trade agreement.

Festivities, which will continue over several months, began in Tokyo in February, and the Swiss Confederation invited the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) to be part of this uniquely special occasion. The Foundation responded by presenting , an exhibition which traces some five hundred years in the history of time measurement.

It was with particular pride that the FHH joined in the opening ceremony, which was attended by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, and his wife. In her opening speech, Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman and Managing Director of the FHH, declared “It is an honour for us to organise this exhibition, knowing that Swiss watchmaking represents such a powerful tie between our two countries, and that Japan and Switzerland will continue to enjoy close relations for many years to come.”

A reminder of how diplomatic relations between the two countries began.
Horological beginnings

The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie’s presence in Tokyo came as a reminder of how diplomatic relations between the two countries began. Indeed, the first Swiss trade delegation travelled to Japan in 1863, led by Aimé Humbert, a representative of the Swiss watch industry whom the Swiss Federal Council had appointed as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. One year later he concluded a treaty of friendship and trade with the Edo government.

The Mastery of Time, an exhibition of some one hundred historically significant timepieces, paid homage to this pivotal moment in Japanese-Swiss relations. Visitors were immersed in the scientific discoveries and decorative arts through which the measurement of time has grown into an activity that is both technically complex and aesthetically inspiring; a world of culture.

> The Mastery of Time

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