December 27, 2023
Seiko Group Corporation
Seiko Group Corporation (Chairman & Group CEO, CCO: Shinji Hattori; head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; hereinafter referred to as "Seiko") will usher in the New Year (Year of the Dragon) with a special window display and the Moment Dragon 2024 AR show at SEIKO HOUSE GINZA from January 1 to 24, 2024.
Visitors can experience the magic by using a smartphone with our exclusive AR application. Simply point the phone’s camera at SEIKO HOUSE GINZA to unleash the Moment Dragon and send it soaring into the Ginza sky, providing an exciting and enchanting experience. As part of the celebration, explore Toki no Tatsu-mikuji (Moment Dragon Fortune-Telling), which will deliver messages from Seiko-affiliated athletes such as Shohei Ohtani.
This unique feature commemorates the 60th anniversary of Seiko's official sports timing success.
We invite you to enjoy this special moment in Ginza as we kick off the year 2024.
Special Window Display to Celebrate the New Year
Just 45 seconds before the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, the Westminster-style chimes on the SEIKO HOUSE GINZA clock tower began to ring, heralding the new year. Precisely at midnight, as the bell struck for the 12th time, the building was illuminated, and the shutters of the display windows facing the main Ginza intersection opened, revealing a majestic “Moment Dragon” in honor of the Chinese zodiac sign for the year 2024.
This dragon is a masterpiece by artist Masakatsu Shimoda. Crafted with meticulous effort by sewing canvas fabric piece by piece, its unique shape is both captivating and stimulating.
Window Display Period
January 1 to January 24, 2024
January 1: 12:00 a.m. - 12:20 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. JST daily (until 7:00 p.m. on the 24th)
Venue: Above SEIKO HOUSE GINZA and in the central display window
The “Moment Dragon 2024 AR Show” - Soaring into the Ginza sky from SEIKO HOUSE GINZA
When the camera of a smartphone equipped with the next-generation AR application XR CHANNEL is aimed at the SEIKO HOUSE GINZA building, the dragon in the window will be unleashed, soaring up into the sky. Visitors can experience the realistic performance of the Moment Dragon as it celebrates the New Year. The AR show utilizes the latest Virtual Positioning System (VPS) technology, so the visual effects change depending on where you stand.
The “Moment Dragon 2024 AR Show” Period (Same as the display window period)
January 1 to January 24, 2024
January 1: 12:00 a.m. - 12:20 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
January 2 onward: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily (until 7:00 p.m. on the last day, the 24th only)
Venue: In front of SEIKO HOUSE GINZA (4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and the surrounding area around the Ginza 4-chome intersection
How to experience the “Moment Dragon 2024 AR show”
How to experience the “Moment Dragon 2024 AR show”
(Open from January 1 to January 24, 2024, 7:00 p.m. JST)
From the Website, download the XR CHANNEL app to your smartphone to enjoy the full experience. Be sure to review the guidelines and recommended settings before using this service.
The dragon also brings Toki no Tatsu-mikuji messages from Shohei Ohtani and Team Seiko athletes! This is part of the 60th anniversary celebration of Seiko's entry into official sports timing.
By using the AR application on your smartphone or scanning the code on the display window, you can receive a Toki no Tatsu-mikuji message from the dragon. As 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Seiko's entry into official sports timing, the dragon will bring New Year’s messages from Team Seiko* and other athletes associated with Seiko.
* Team Seiko is a group of athletes dedicated to fostering joy through sports and exemplifying the Seiko Group Purpose “creating a future full of smiles.”
https://www.seiko.co.jp/sports_music/sports/team_seiko/
*It includes the following members (among others):
[Track and Field] Ryota Yamagata, Bruno Dede, Ken Toyoda, Chisato Fukushima
[Swimming] Masato Sakai, Yui Ohashi, Shoma Sato
[Trampoline] Ginga Munetomo
Seiko Ambassadors Shohei Ohtani (MLB), Yuto Horigone (skateboarding)
For more information about Team Seiko, please visit:
Seiko's official sports timing history and systems (related links/video)
・Seiko timing and measurement systems
・Profile of Masakatsu Shimoda
Masakatsu Shimoda is an artist, born in Hyogo, Japan, in 1967. In 1994, he embarked on a two-year journey abroad, capturing the essence of people he met via colored pencil portraits. In 2011, Shimoda’s art took a unique turn as he began delving into the creation of handmade dinosaur headpieces as a personal passion project.
His distinctive headpieces garnered recognition and were featured in the runway shows of popular fashion brands, such as Comme des Garçons Homme Plus in their 2018FW collection and Off-White™ in their 2021FW collection.
Shimoda's notable publications include “Kyoryu Ningen (Parco Publishing)”, “Kyoryu ga ita (Switch Publishing)”, and the picture book “Shinda Kaizoku (Poplar Publishing)”. Additionally, he collaborated with poet Shuntaro Tanikawa on the co-authored work “Hadaka Dakara (Switch Publishing)”.
Press Contact:
Seiko Group Corporation
Public Relations Department
prdeptj@seiko.co.jp
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