u/Few_Calligrapher5661

I'm Brazilian, based in Brazil, and a while ago I acquired this Citizen Cosmotron Special (ref. 7803-790103, full stainless steel, serial 3101293) at a local auction — manufactured in November 1973, according to the serial decoder. A stunning piece on its own. But what makes it extraordinary is what's engraved on the caseback.

The caseback reads:

贈

飯沼小学校職員一同

S 49 4

Translated from Japanese:

"Presented by all the staff of Iinuma Elementary School — Shōwa 49, Month 4"

That's April 1974 — the beginning of the Japanese school year. The phrasing "all the staff" (職員一同) strongly suggests this was a formal retirement gift, most likely presented to the school's principal (校長) at the end of the academic year.

Think about what this watch represented in 1974: the Cosmotron Special was cutting-edge technology. This wasn't a generic gift. Someone chose it with care. The entire faculty pooled together for it.

What I know so far:

Movement: Citizen caliber 7803 (Cosmotron Special)

Reference: 7803-790103 TA

Case: Full stainless steel, Water Resistant

Manufactured: November 1973

Gifted: April 1974 (Shōwa 49)

Occasion: Almost certainly a retirement ceremony

School: 飯沼小学校 (Iinuma Shōgakkō)

The challenge: There are at least two active schools with this name in Japan — one in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture and one in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture — plus a now-closed school that existed in the Suginami district of Tokyo. I haven't been able to narrow it down yet.

What I'm looking for:

Does anyone know which Iinuma Elementary School would be the most likely candidate based on regional context?
Does anyone have experience tracing retired Japanese public school employees from the Shōwa era? Are there municipal archives or education board records that cover staff from 1974?
Any Japanese speakers willing to help confirm the translation or draft a formal inquiry letter to send to the schools or municipal offices?

The person this watch belonged to was probably born between 1914 and 1924, and descendants could absolutely still be alive today. My goal is to learn the story behind this piece: who this person was, what they meant to that school, and what this gift represented in that moment. An object with this kind of dedication deserves to have its history known — not just its mechanics admired.

Happy to share more photos of the caseback, movement, and dial. Thanks in advance.

[Citizen] 1973 Cosmotron Special 7803 — Acquired at auction in Brazil with a kanji dedication from a Japanese elementary school. Trying to trace the history behind it.