Dubai, UAE, February 8, 2016:  Zenith is pleased to announce MLB Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara as its new brand ambassador, a partnership presented in front of more than 50 journalists and media representatives in Tokyo. Zenith, which has earned worldwide fame for its legendary El Primero calibre, chose Uehara for his commitment to excellence and skilled technique – values shared by these true visionaries. Koji owns several Zenith watches and mainly wears the El Primero Stratos Spindrift. Zenith will be proudly supporting this fine athlete both in Japan and the USA.

Uehara graduated from the Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, and was drafted with the first pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 1998. He had a successful rookie year in 1999, with 15 consecutive wins that broke the all-time rookie record, claimed the Rookie of the Year, Eiji Sawamura Award, and led in wins, ERA, strikeouts and winning percentage.

He was a member of the Japanese national baseball team which competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The team eventually won the bronze medal. In 2006, he joined Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic and played an important role in leading the team to the victory.

In 2008, Uehara asserted his preference in public to be transferred to a Major League Baseball team through the posting system and signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. On July 30, 2011, Uehara was traded to the Texas Rangers and then joined Boston Red Sox in 2012. He pitched in five games of the 2013 American League Championship Series (ALCS) and was named ALCS Most Valuable Player.