I am a product manager and designer of Grand Seiko. My team designs of Grand Seiko watches for the global market, and I am involved in supervising and supporting them. Previously, I was in charge of the design and product team management of Seiko on a global basis.
We spend a lot of time creating stories based on our brand philosophy, “The Nature of Time”. We pursue themes that resonate with a Japanese sense of aesthetics every day, sharpening our sensibilities. We pay especially careful attention to the dials, selecting the best combination from among thousands of patterns while maintaining legibility, since it is one of the most important elements of Grand Seiko. My motivation comes from users appreciating the beauty of the models which I have produced. I am deeply moved. The difficulty lies in the creative process and persistence to detail, but there is also the joy of overcoming a challenge and fulfillment. With such my passion and joy, I am constantly pursuing new challenges and growth.
The first Grand Seiko I designed in my life was SBGX085 in 2011. At the time, the most popular dial colors were silver, black, and dark blue, but I proposed a matte cool gray, and it was accepted. I have memories of many days of trial and error in pursuing a three-dimensional finish for the case shape. This model opened the way to develop more variations of derivative models such as Spring Drive and GMT. The SBGX083 holds a special place in my heart and is an important watch that allows me to feel the evolution of Grand Seiko.
I would like to have the SLGC001 “Tentagraph.” It has a special meaning as the first long-awaited model of Grand Seiko’s mechanical chronograph. The watch design combines both tranquility and dynamism and which perfectly embodies the “Evolution 9 Style”. I am particularly attracted by the precisely designed and installed infinitesimal gap between the dial and the hands inside the box-shaped glass. In addition, I never get tired of watching how the time is accurately transmitted through small gears in a space of only four centimeters. One can hold it in his or her hand and appreciate it.
