In the city of Chiba, just outside Tokyo, Japan hosted its first ever Cigar Smoking World Championship qualifying event. The country is the latest of debutants in the circuit and the competition took place inside the elegant Liqueur Plaza, owned by Yuzo Ohkoshi, Japan’s largest online cigar distributor.

“From the first puff, the atmosphere was electric,” CSWC founder Marko Bilic says. “Competitors leaned into their cigars, eyes fixed on the slow burn, while friends and supporters cheered them on.”

Although the settings were new, the main man in charge was not. Nobuhiro Nakamura, is a legendary Japanese judge within the slow smoking community. By his side was newcomer Motohiko Sato and together they saw Syo “Watchman” Aghajy become the historic first Japanese national CSWC champion.

“With a steady hand and iron focus, “Watchman” outlasted them all,” Bilic says.

At 1 hour 24 minutes and 8 seconds he was about four minutes ahead of runner-up, Akihiro Tashiro, and another three minutes better than Masato Ishizuki

After the race was over, Ohkoshi invited guests to his family’s traditional Japanese restaurant. With food cooked by his own mother, the night was brought to a perfect end.

“Being in Japan for the first time, surrounded by such warm, passionate people, and seeing the CSWC spirit come alive here was unforgettable,” Bilic concludes. “This was more than a competition. It was the birth of a new chapter in the country’s cigar culture, and if the spirit, passion, and skill shown in Chiba are any indication, Japan is here to stay in the world of slow smoking.”

Aghay as well as Okhosi and a few other competitors are now planning their travels to represent Japan at the grand final in Split.