In the rural Japanese town of Shizukuishi in Iwate Prefecture, a new wooden studio for Grand Seiko blends with its natural surroundings. A swooping roof and clear glass window offer a sublime view of Mount Iwate, over 2,000m in height, where rocks unfold their true colours when snow melts. Set in lush landscape, the studio bears witness to wild creatures, including antelopes and foxes. In the midst of nature, craftspeople, known as takumi, are breathing life into mechanical watches. It is a place that embodies the brand's philosophy of the nature of time, in an environmental and technological sense.
"Japan is a country with beautiful nature. Historically, we have a sensible notion of appreciating changing seasons. Not just four seasons. We have 24 seasons. The appreciation of subtle change is how the Japanese enjoy the flow of time. Somehow, we want to have our product reflect that," said Akio Naito, president of Seiko Watch Corporation.
