Why Japan has become one of watchmaking’s biggest sources of inspiration
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- Japan has become a major source of design inspiration for watchmakers, from cherry blossoms and Hokusai prints to lacquer techniques and contemporary art.
- The country's influence extends beyond established brands such as Seiko, Citizen and Casio to independent makers including Kurono Tokyo and Minase.
Japan's influence on watch design now reaches far beyond the digital Casio watches many Asian children wore to school. Watchmakers are drawing on cherry blossoms, Hokusai prints, traditional lacquer, seasonal landscapes and contemporary art.
The country has also developed a growing independent watch scene. Alongside Seiko, Citizen and Casio, brands such as Kurono Tokyo and Minase have built international followings, with launches that sell out and waiting lists for their watches.
Swiss and other leading watchmakers have increasingly looked to Japan for ideas, embracing both its artistic traditions and its craftsmanship. Grand Seiko stands out for building a design language around Japan's changing seasons, rather than treating cherry blossoms as a one-off motif.
About this summary
Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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