Local Community

Through the Seiko Exciting Clock Classroom, we explain how over the centuries people developed methods to measure and standardize time as we know it today. Children learn the joy of time and clocks through hands-on experience of technology and craftsmanship. Then we convey the importance of thinking for oneself and cooperating with others to create a rich future. In November 2024, we held the Seiko Exciting Clock Classroom, Sundial Edition at SEIKO HOUSE in Ginza. Eighteen children and 19 parents participated, learning about the history of clocks, searching for parts for mechanical wristwatches, playing a clockmaker's screw-in game, and making and experimenting with original sundials.
Additionally, in the "Future Classroom" STEAM Library on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Website, we have published a video teaching program called "Learning Clock Technology Innovations and Exploring the 'Rich Time' of the Future."

Through the Seiko Exciting Sports Classroom, we provide opportunities to learn the joy of physical activity from world-class athletes and experience using the very same measurement equipment used in world-class sporting competitions. This program allows participants to think about sports and time by experiencing how split-second records are created, using real measurement equipment and interacting with top athletes. In May, 2024, we held the Seiko Exciting Sports Classroom, Relay Edition at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix Athletics 2024 at the National Stadium in Tokyo. The main instructor was Chisato Fukushima, the Japanese record holder for the 100m and 200m sprinting events and also a Seiko Smile Ambassador, and as guest instructors we were fortunate to have former Japanese competitive athletes Shinji Takahira, Masashi Eriguchi, and Mokiko Takahashi. They provided practical guidance to 135 elementary school boys and girls belonging to track and field clubs in Tokyo. The kids were excited to find that their 4x100m relay race was run at the same venue and used the same measurement equipment as a real world-class event.

In the Seiko Exciting Music Classroom, professional musicians teach children how to increase their enjoyment of music. This program conveys not only the fun of performing, but also the importance of having a positive attitude towards music and making steady, long-term efforts - advice that only carries weight when it comes from music professionals. Music is sometimes called the "art of time." In today's world, where music is abundant in daily life, children can experience the joy of connecting with people through the music they play. In August, 2024, we invited professional jazz musicians from the United States to gather in Sapporo Art Park to provide passionate instruction to about 40 children from the Sapporo Junior Jazz School.
The Seiko Summer Jazz Camp is a five-day program where top jazz musicians from around the world teach Japanese youth who aspire to become professional players about performance techniques, music theory, enjoyment, and how to better engage with music. Participants are selected through a rigorous audition process by the instructors. In 2024, about 40 audition winners from across the country participated. Although the curriculum was shortened by one day due to a typhoon, the final gala concert showcased the participants' achievements from four days of practice with wonderful performances.

The Seiko Exciting Environmental Classroom is a program that encourages participants to think about why biodiversity is important and what we can do to create rich and sustainable forests. At the watch production base in Shizukuishi Town in northern Iwate Prefecture, we consider time from the perspective of living creatures through workshops on making insect hotels. In July 2024, we held the Seiko Exciting Environmental Classroom at Morioka Seiko Instruments. Eighteen children and eighteen parents participated, learning about biodiversity, making kaleidoscopes using leaves and flowers, and creating “insect hotels” as homes for insects.

Since immediately after the 2011 earthquake, we have held annual reconstruction support concerts in the disaster-affected areas, and since 2013, we have held the "Wa Concerts to Support Eastern Japan" in three prefectures in Tohoku and also in Tokyo. Many artists who care about helping people in the affected areas, including the late musician Norio Maeda, have performed in these events, deepening bonds with local music enthusiasts. On March 10, 2024 (the 13th anniversary of the earthquake), we held the 46th concert at Tokyo International Forum, featuring a number of well-known artists such as Eiji Kitamura, Junko Yagami, Yukari Ito, Ken Matsudaira, and Ryoko Moriyama.
By creating concerts together with people in the disaster areas, Seiko has seen the power of music to light the flame of hope in people's hearts and support recovery and reconstruction. With our message "Never forget that time… and keep moving forward,” we will continue bringing hope to the people of Tohoku, helping them to move forward through the power of music.

Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. has been holding annual Community Environmental Reporting Meetings since fiscal 2008. This meeting, targeting local residents, municipalities, and companies within the prefecture, includes tours of the factory and outdoor green spaces and introduces the company’s environmental activities. One goal is to demonstrate that a business devoted to manufacturing can coexist with Nature and with the surrounding community. The 17th meeting was held in October, 2024, with 16 participants.
Additionally, a comprehensive partnership agreement was signed in 2021 between Iwate Prefecture, Seiko Watch Corporation, and Morioka Seiko Instruments to work together for regional revitalization and the realization of a sustainable society. We are happy to participate in local conservation activities, such as activities focused on the birch forest spreading across Hiraniwa Highland in Kuji City, which we join three times every year. Our Waku-Waku Tope biotope, which we completed in 2022, is designed, managed, and operated in collaboration with Iwate Prefectural University, conducting "living creature surveys" and further enhancing collaboration with the community.
In recognition of these in environmental conservation activities, Morioka Seiko Instruments received the Director-General of the Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the 2023 Green Factory Awards. In fiscal year 2024, the Waku-Waku Forest and Waku-Waku Tope were certified as Nature Coexistence Sites by the Ministry of the Environment.

Since 2021, Seiko’s world-famous sports watch Prospex has been supporting marine conservation activities such as the Marine Debris Program conducted by PADI, the world's largest diving education organization, and the affiliated PADI Aware Foundation. Out of our love for the ocean and our feelings of gratitude toward the thousands of divers who also love Prospex diver's watches, we are happy to donate a portion of the sales of our Save the Ocean series to PADI and jointly conduct Dive Against Debris activities to remove debris from the seabed.
Additionally, employees of local subsidiaries around the world participate in marine conservation activities in collaboration with PADI.

In August 2014, Seiko Instruments' Makuhari site signed a Corporate Forest Agreement with Chiba Prefecture (in which the site is located), and has been planting black pine trees in the Seiko Instruments Forest along Kujukuri Beach. In fiscal year 2023, we entrusted the Chiba Prefecture Forestry Cooperative with undergrowth clearing and repairing protective nets. In April 2023, we renewed the agreement for the second time and continue to monitor the growth of these black pine trees.

Our group regularly conducts cleanup activities around business sites and along roadsides at our domestic and overseas companies. SII Crystal Technology Inc. conducts cleanup activities around the nearby Nagano River every October, combining social contribution and health promotion. In 2023, 67 employees participated, cleaning designated areas in five teams.
Seiko Instruments Inc.'s Ono site conducts cleanup activities around its premises every May and October as part of its regional contribution. About 20 employees participate each time, cleaning garbage and cutting weeds to beautify the roads around the site. Through these cleanup activities, we have been registered as an Ichikawa City Citizen Manners Cooperation Group.
Seiko Instruments' Sendai site regularly conducts regional cleanup activities around the nearby Hirose River as well as its business site. In fiscal year 2023, about 30 employees participated in total.

The Advanced Development Department of Seiko Future Creation Inc. promotes joint development with national research institutions and universities, using Seiko Manufacturing (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.'s Research & Development Department as an overseas R&D base.