Kobayashi-san, pres of Cosina, what do we know about him?

[john_van_v]

On the right, photo from http://forum.clubsnap.com by chiif

 

[Paul T.]

I doubt this forum would have as many members, were it not for this gentleman.

But I'm STILL waiting to hear about Stephen's factory tour! Mr G?

 

[sleepyhead]

Ummmm, he's taller than the other two people in the photo?

 

[erikhaugsby]

He has a son and a daughter?
He doesn't need corrective eyewear?
He doesn't have graying hair?

 

[naruto]

cheers for Chiif Fei (the guy in the centre), our local CV dealer. 🙂
I got my 40mm from him. 😀

 

[BrianPhotog]

I doubt this forum would have as many members, were it not for this gentleman.

Yep...I'd still be shooting mostly SLRs and the occasional Kiev 4am.

Ummmm, he's taller than the other two people in the photo?

he's testing the magnesium-alloy top/bottom plates by straping R4 bodies to his feet and using them like mini-stilts 😀

He has a son and a daughter?

That's his translator on the left and Chiif Fei, Singapore/Malaysia area distributor in the middle (link).

He doesn't need corrective eyewear?
He doesn't have graying hair?

neither does my mom...if you don't include her hair dye and contacts 😛

 

[Finder]

He is Japanese. He works for Cosina. His social security number is 2345-43-543. His blood type is B. He did not win the lottery last week. He will not be going into rehab. He likes cherry blossom season, Karaoke, and Pachinko. He is a big Paris Hilton fan. He started his carreer as a government spy during the Meiji restoration. He knew Mark Twain and was the orginal inventor of Kadachrome - can you really believe it was a bunch of classical musicians? He is faster than a speeding building and can jump higher than a bullet. He battles monsters. He is a man among men and does not change around women. He is human.

 

[erikhaugsby]

He is Japanese. He works for Cosina. His social security number is 2345-43-543. His blood type is B. He did not win the lottery last week. He will not be going into rehab. He likes cherry blossom season, Karaoke, and Pachinko. He is a big Paris Hilton fan. He started his carreer as a government spy during the Meiji restoration. He knew Mark Twain and was the orginal inventor of Kadachrome - can you really believe it was a bunch of classical musicians? He is faster than a speeding building and can jump higher than a bullet. He battles monsters. He is a man among men and does not change around women. He is human.

Will the real stalker please stand up? 🙄

 

[Iggy]

Finder,

You've just summed up Japan better than I ever could. I loved living there... <sighs>

 

[FrankS]

Finder,

You've just summed up Japan better than I ever could. I loved living there... <sighs>

Me too !

 

[KoNickon]

I am struck by the fact that Cosina's name above the door is in English -- and I assume this is at headquarters in Nagano? That would be like seeing billboards in Japanese at Yankee Stadium. 🙂

We know he's a big admirer of Leica. We know he doesn't like digital. Beyond that, maybe he likes to golf?

 

[Finder]

I am struck by the fact that Cosina's name above the door is in English -- and I assume this is at headquarters in Nagano? That would be like seeing billboards in Japanese at Yankee Stadium. 🙂

Not really. First, the Japanese use the alphabet. Second, they would simply have to write is phonetically in Japanese. Third, the company name may be trademarked alphabetized. Forth, there is a certain cashe in having a company name in the alphabet. Fifth, and probably most important, none of the Western visitors would be able to read the sign if it were in Japanese.

 

[bob cole]

Kobayashi-san, pres of Cosina, what do we know about him?

If you really want to know, take a look at what Keppler wrote in Popphoto last year:

http://keppler.popphoto.com/blog/2006/05/the_contrary_mi.html

and Tom Abrahamson, among many things, said a few years ago, when he visited Kobayashi, that the man has a Leica M3...

 

[Finder]

Sixth, the company name maybe transliterated as "koshina" if it were in Japanese.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Well, we don't know much other than what we read but the head bartender knows 😉

Kiu

 

[john_van_v]

Un huh, lots of useful information, thanks a lot

 

[KoNickon]

I know it's a matter of cachet for Japanese companies to have a Latin alphabet name/logo. But it's just odd -- the average Japanese wouldn't be able to read its name. A sign of the triumph of the West?

 

[Finder]

I know it's a matter of cachet for Japanese companies to have a Latin alphabet name/logo. But it's just odd -- the average Japanese wouldn't be able to read its name. A sign of the triumph of the West?

But the average Japanese can read the name.

 

[Tom A]

i dont know the basis of the name, but as the company was founded in the 50's it was oriented to export, and needed a name that would work with western alphabet. It was Mr Kobayashi's father who started the company and it is still, more or less, a family owned company.
We keep associating it with our Bessa's, Zeiss Ikon,s etc, but the main business is making optics for lots of other applications, including LCD projectors, high speed surveillance lenses, beam splitters for video recorders and other stuff.
Cosina is also one of the few manufacturers left who makes its own glass. This allows them a free hand when it comes to designing lenses that require specialized glass as they can make a small batch if needed, just for a trial run.
I met Mr Kobayashi in Tokyo almost 10 years ago and over time we have become good friends. He is a delightful man, great sense of humor and an abiding interest in cameras (avid collector), lenses as well as a photographer.
We can spend hours or days when time allows talking about "what if's" and of course having the technical know how available, many of these what ifs become realities!
Oh, he does wear glasses most of the time and he is not interested in golf. He is also one of those rare people who can explain optical designs so that even I can understand the why's and why nots of it.

 

[john_van_v]

Tom A. sez: "he is not interested in golf"

Now that IS interesting information !!