Latest news with #Arita
Rakyat Post
7 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Rakyat Post
So Classy It Hurts! Seiko's Presage Classics Series Is Quiet Luxury With A Japanese Soul
Subscribe to our FREE When most people think of art, they probably picture intricate carvings in museums or delicate ceramics behind glass, not something you'd actually wear on your wrist. But Seiko's Presage Classic Series flips that idea on its head. Instead of admiring traditional Japanese craft from afar, why not carry it with you? (Credit: freepik) Designed for both men and ladies, the Presage Classic Series is Seiko's love letter to Japanese craftsmanship. These watches don't just look inspired by art, they are art! Made using time-honoured techniques like Arita porcelain and Urushi lacquer. The result? A sleek, wearable design that turns heritage into something you don't just admire but carry with effortless style. SPB497: Arita Porcelain, Reimagined Let's start with the SPB497. It features a dial made of unglazed Arita porcelain (yes, real porcelain) with a soft matte finish that feels refined. Arita porcelain has been around since the 1600s, from a little town in Kyushu, Japan. It was Japan's first-ever ceramic porcelain product, and over time, its signature stylistic expression made its way around the world. Sounds familiar, right? That same aesthetic shows up in our own Peranakan and Baba-Nyonya porcelain, too (think of those nice pinggan mangkuk sets in your grandma's cabinet). (Credit: freepik) What makes this watch special is the raised rhombus pattern on the dial, a symbol of good health and prosperity. Combined with warm gold hands and indexes, it's got an understated, classy vibe that feels timeless. And don't worry, this thing is far from fragile (this isn't your average teacup, lah !). The porcelain is a custom blend that's four times tougher than regular ceramic, fired and finished by artisans who've been doing this for generations. Only 1,200 pieces of the Seiko Presage Classic Series Arita Limited Edition SPB497 exist, so if you manage to get one, just know it's something rare. And really, really cool. SPB499J1: Urushi Lacquer, With an Edge Prefer something bold and classy? The Seiko Presage Classic Series in Urushi Black, or SPB499J1, might be more your style. This one's all about Urushi lacquer, a natural tree sap that's been used in Japan for over 9,000 years. Traditionally, it's found on beautiful old furniture, soup bowls, and statues of deities. It's kind of like the lacquer used in traditional Malaysian wood carvings, where the shine isn't just for show, but also for protection. (Credit: freepik) But here, it's layered (by hand, OK!) onto the dial until it becomes this smooth, jet-black surface that catches the light like nothing else. The design draws inspiration from Seiko's first-ever pocket watch, introduced in 1895, complete with gold Roman numerals, a clean rail-track chapter ring, and a glossy finish that exudes effortless elegance. Underneath it all, you've got Seiko's trusty 6R5H automatic movement, a 3-day power reserve, a 24-hour subdial, and a slim case with a scratch-resistant coating. Oh, and similar to the SPB497, its leather strap is sustainably sourced and certified by the Leather Working Group, so it's kinder to the planet, too. Something Worth Wearing With the Presage Classic Series, Seiko gives you more than just a watch. You get real, living craft where centuries of skill and culture, wrapped up in a beautiful, wearable package. The Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Hype Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Business
- Hype Malaysia
SEIKO's Presage Classic Series Welcomes The Stunning Arita Porcelain Dial Timepiece
Since its introduction in 2016, Presage has melded Japanese artistry with Seiko's longstanding mastery of mechanical watchmaking. Several Presage timepieces have showcased these artisanal crafts through dials made with enamel, urushi lacquer, Shippo enamel, and Arita porcelain. Today, the Presage Classic Series, known for designs that draw from the colours, materials, and textures of traditional Japanese craftwork, welcomes a new creation distinguished by the refined beauty of its unglazed Arita porcelain dial. A New Aspect Of Arita Porcelain Dial Making Unglazed porcelain, introduced for the first time in Presage, is a comparatively new technique within the four-century-old tradition of Arita porcelain. The new technique allows for a wider range of expression and exceptionally refined designs. Typically, Arita porcelain is glazed, imparting it with a smooth and glossy finish. However, when left unglazed, the porcelain exhibits a matte texture, giving it a warm, white hue and a soft and distinct impression. This technique enhances the delicate ridges characteristic of Arita porcelain ware and allows for intricate, three-dimensional dial patterns to stand out more prominently. For the new creation, a textured rhombus pattern adorns the area around the indexes. Historically, this pattern has been considered an auspicious motif symbolising the prosperity of descendants and good health and has been widely used in Arita porcelain ware. The gold-coloured indexes and hands stand out beautifully against the matte white dial, creating a striking contrast. The production of each watch dial consists of a multi-stage process that requires precisely controlled moulding and firing procedures and involves great skill and patience. To give the dials the strength required for a watch, the artisans use a type of Arita porcelain specially formulated to be more than four times harder and more durable than traditional porcelain. A very precise casting mould is used to achieve the difficult task of giving each dial the meticulous pattern required for this wristwatch. Under the supervision of Arita porcelain master craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, the dials are created by Toshiaki Kawaguchi and his colleagues at a manufacturing firm in Arita that has been making porcelain since 1830. Kawaguchi acquired his expertise in the intricate process through Hashiguchi's guidance. The use of Arita porcelain watch dials is one facet of Seiko's commitment to preserving horological culture and technical skills for future generations, keeping in mind Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations: 'Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.' This limited-edition watch is powered by Calibre 6R51, one of the newest additions to the mechanical 6R series. The wearer can view the movement's gold-coloured oscillating weight through the sapphire crystal case back. The watch will be available as a limited edition of 1,200 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide from July 2025.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Here's why Japan's coastguard visited a remote Scottish lighthouse
The twinning initiative has been supported by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), who believe that linking lighthouses across the globe helps to foster peace, cultural exchange, and international understanding. During their visit, Ms Arita and Mr Abe were given a guided tour of the lighthouse by Retained Lightkeeper Barry Miller. They also experienced a live demonstration, without sound, of the historic fog signal engines by Alexander Peebles of the Mull of Galloway Trust. The Inubosaki Lighthouse was designed and built by Scottish engineer Richard Henry Brunton in 1874 served as the most important coastal lighthouse to support the safety of maritime traffic in the Pacific Ocean approaches, from and to Tokyo Bay, an important location for Japanese shipping industry and economy. #JapanCoastGuard officials visited Mull of Galloway #Lighthouse (Scotland), which twinned with Inubosaki Lighthouse in 2024, and held a meeting with #NorthernLighthouseBoard (@NLB_UK ) to discuss concrete ways for collaborating with the twinned light houses. — 海上保安庁 (@JCG_koho) July 4, 2025 Because of its practical importance as well as historical value, the Inubosaki Brunton Association was established by the local community to support the research of the lighthouse and to raise public awareness.
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Southwest Japan's Challenges / Signs of Growth: Japan Firms Aim to Revive Industry Through Evolution of Traditional Crafts; Utilizing Traditional Craft in Non-Traditional Ways
This is the second installment in a series of articles taking an in-depth look at industries with growth potential in Kyushu as well as Yamaguchi and Okinawa prefectures. ARITA, Saga — 'These products are known to be hard to break if they are dropped,' said Norihide Nishiyama, president of a company that makes Arita ware porcelain products. 'We are receiving more and more orders.' The town of Arita, Saga Prefecture, is traditionally known for creating products called Arita ware. Nishiyama, 74, president of Takumi Co. in Arita, spoke on May 19 about some of his company's products that are dubbed 'the strongest porcelain in the world.' In the company's workshop, artisans were quietly shaping tableware products. To see if the products could live up to their name, I dropped an item from a height of about 70 centimeters onto the floor. It did not break. The porcelain's strength is about 330 megapascals, which is four times stronger than ordinary porcelain. The porcelain was developed by the Saga Ceramics Research Laboratory in the town. It was released and advertised as the strongest in the world in 2016, the 400th anniversary of when Arita ware was first developed. The company also patented the porcelain. To achieve this strength, Nobuaki Kamochi, 54, and other researchers at the laboratory conducted about 600 experiments to determine the optimum ratio of clay, glass components and artificially produced alumina, which are the ingredients to make porcelain. The group largely succeeded in reducing the size of the bubbles formed in porcelain firing. The bubbles are the cause of breakage. Manufacturers in the prefecture are permitted to use this technology, and the production process remains the same when using the specialized porcelain. 'Even thin products retain their strength,' Kamochi said. 'Our technology has expanded the range of design possibilities.' Takumi commercialized the specialized porcelain in 2022. Since then, orders have been steadily coming in, mainly from izakaya Japanese-style pubs in the Kanto and Kansai regions. The company shipped about 200 orders to restaurants in fiscal 2024, three times more than before its commercialization. 'We want to revive Arita ceramics, which have been overshadowed by plastic and import products,' Nishiyama said. Utilizing modern technologyA numerical control (NC) cutting machine, which is used in the industry to automatically create molds from plaster, has been improved by the laboratory and others, allowing for micrometer-level precision to create intricate designs. Shingama, a local ceramics manufacturer founded in 1830, uses an NC cutting machine and the specialized porcelain to produce dials for the luxury watch 'Presage' by Tokyo-based Seiko Watch Corp. While watch dials are typically made of metal, the Arita ware dial model, which was released in 2019, is both thin and durable. Eight models have been sold so far, priced between ¥200,000-¥270,000. 'The products, which combine the skills of seasoned craftspeople with modern technology, have been well-received not only in Japan but also overseas,' said a Shingama representative. Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, 60, senior managing director of Shingama, said, 'We've demonstrated the potential to expand the porcelain market to components for industrial products and precision machinery.' Seven ceramics manufacturers in Arita established a joint venture company called ARITA PLUS Co. in 2017 and began using NC cutting machines. The company hires designers and accepts custom orders from customers in Japan and overseas.'We can quickly create prototypes based on ideas and images exchanged on social media,' said Shinji Terauchi, 63, the head of ARITA PLUS. 'It streamlines our transactions.' First-class chefs Terauchi met at trade shows in France and Italy are among his customers, and his company now supplies tableware to luxury hotels and top-tier restaurants in Europe and Asia. 'Potential for growth' Following the signing of the 1985 Plaza Accord, which led to a strong yen, there was a sharp decline in exports of Japanese ceramics. After the bubble economy collapsed in early 1990s, domestic demand shifted toward inexpensive imported products, and sales to department stores and ryotei traditional Japanese restaurants also decreased. However, according to trade statistics of Japan, exports have grown again in recent years, reaching ¥26 billion in 2024, a threefold increase compared to 10 years ago. 'No other advanced nation has as many traditional crafts still in existence as Japan does,' said Kenji Kuramoto, a senior researcher at the Japan Economic Research Institute Inc.'s Industrial Research and Planning Department who is knowledgeable about crafts. 'Many of these crafts are high quality and functional. If their designs are refined and their cultural backgrounds are recognized, new sales channels will open up.' Kuramoto added: 'There is significant potential for growth in exports and sales to foreign tourists in Japan. The Kyushu region has enormous untapped potential, as it has many essential everyday crafts such as tableware and textiles.' Craft tourismIn addition to Arita ware, Kurume kasuri, an ikat textile produced in the Chikugo region of Fukuoka Prefecture, has become more popular for its monpe work pants, which were worn by female farmworkers until around the 1940s. Kurume kasuri monpe was commercialized by Takahiro Shiramizu, 39, who founded Unagino Nedoko, a company selling crafts and other items, in Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, in 2012. As the pants are 'breathable, water-absorbent and comfortable,' Shiramizu thought they would still be popular today. The product has sold well, and its production has spread to local companies. Shiramizu's company now has seven shops, including in Fukuoka City and Tokyo. Shiramizu is from Saga Prefecture and moved to Yame after getting married. 'The charm of an area is often discovered by people who moved there,' he said. Shimogawa Orimono, a Yame-based company that manufactures Kurume kasuri, offers factory tours to popularize the fabric. Kyozo Shimogawa, 54, the third-generation president of the family operating the company, started giving the tours around 2016. The tours have attracted more than 1,000 visitors annually. The company has also started accepting interns from overseas. About 20 people, mostly from Europe, have learned traditional Japanese techniques before returning home. Shimogawa has been giving lectures on kasuri in France and other countries in Europe since 2017. His company's kasuri has been used by high-end fashion brands as well. 'I want to convey to young people in Japan that kasuri is highly valued worldwide,' Shimogawa said. Tomohiro Haraoka, a director of the Nihon Kogei Sanchi Kyokai (Association of production areas of Japanese crafts), has promoted craft tourism, which focuses on visiting areas where crafts are produced. 'Making production areas more open and accessible, and fostering exchanges with domestic and international consumers, peers and other industries, can lead to reevaluating production areas,' Haraoka said. Reviving traditional crafts has the potential to become a pillar of regional growth strategies.
Asahi Shimbun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Craftmanship fused with expo mascot proves a popular mix
A lacquerware doll of the official Myaku-Myaku mascot of the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo. A pair of these dolls cost 1.65 million yen ($11,300). (Provided by Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten) The bizarre appearance of Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot of the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo, has turned heads. Now, the multiple-eyeballed creature is helping a crafts maker turn a profit. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a long-established sundry designer and vendor headquartered in Nara, has created several products themed on Myaku-Myaku for the international event. The company primarily handles practical crafts, so its artisans faced as challenge using Myaku-Myaku as a 'model.' Its unexpected strong sales at the expo have provided encouragement for artisans of old-style craftworks. All formally licensed products of the expo have been developed under the concept of 'Myaku-Myaku meets craftsmanship.' Measuring 25 centimeters tall, a Myaku-Myaku statue made of Nabeshima porcelain from Imari city, Saga Prefecture, carries a price tag of 550,000 yen ($3,790), including tax. Brisk sales of the sculpture since the expo opened on April 13 led to Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten's decision to ramp up production. A public relations representative of the company said the statue's detailed pattern was drawn carefully stroke by stroke. 'Our customers may find the creation not only cute but also novel and attractive,' the official said. A pair of 25-cm-tall lacquerware dolls of Myaku-Myaku are available for a tax-inclusive 1.65 million yen. One of the limited-edition items was bought within a week of its release. The other is expected to be sold through a lottery by the end of May. The many eyes of the lacquer-processed doll are inlayed with mother-of-pearl and have undergone 'rankaku-bari,' a skill in which finely crushed eggshells are applied to the surface before being coated with another layer of lacquer. The doll's body sections were finished through different painting techniques, such as colorful 'kawari-nuri' and blacking 'shin-nuri,' giving the creation a luster and unique presence, according to the company. Tiny plates of renowned Arita ware porcelain, characterized by subtle Myaku-Myaku designs, have also been popular. They cost a tax-inclusive 2,750 yen each. A small 'o-mikuji' oracle statue, crafted from famed Seto ware and priced at 1,650 yen after tax, is named O-myaku-ji. It dispenses random fortunes on strips of paper when the string at its bottom is pulled. These goods have drawn crowds at the official souvenir store on the expo's venue, according to the company. 'Our artisans are delighted that the international fair offered them an opportunity to not only take advantage of their skills but also refine their techniques,' a publicity official of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten said. For details of the crafts, visit the Japanese website of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten at (
