July 18, 2024
Seiko Group Corporation
SEIKO GROUP CORPORATION (Shinji Hattori, Chairman and Representative Director, Group CEO & CCO; Head Office Chuo Ward, Tokyo, (hereinafter referred to as “Seiko”) is pleased to announce that “THE GIFT OF TIME” project was launched on July 18. The core vision behind this undertaking is to inspire a rediscovery of the richness and value created by Japan's unique culture, such as the sense of beauty fostered by the four seasons and Nature, and the craftsmanship of its artisans. We aim to view these things from the perspective of 'Time' and, through this lens, communicate the appeal of “Japanese luxury” to the world.
To launch THE GIFT OF TIME project, we are creating a special video on the theme of “Time,” together with several top talents at the forefront of Japanese culture. We expect to release a trailer for the video on a special Website prior to the official release of the finished film.
As a symbol of this project, the basement floor of Wako's main shop in the iconic SEIKO HOUSE was renovated and reopened on Saturday, 20 July.
THE GIFT OF TIME Project
The world is beginning to look at Japanese culture as providing a different concept of luxury. In other words, the idea of “Japanese-style luxury” is creating new values in the world. We can see this in things such as traditional Japanese craftsmanship, which is distinguished by uncompromising attention to detail, and manufacturing that prioritizes ease of use and visibility. This approach has been described as “Quiet Luxury,” and it is ushering in a new world of Japanese-inspired luxury culture.
Seiko has contributed to the formation of Japanese luxury culture through brands such as Grand Seiko, Credor, and Wako. In this project, we will work with top creators who are leading the development of Japanese culture to explore this unique luxury culture from the perspective of “Time.” After the completion of the special video, which is scheduled for October, screenings will be held around the world to introduce Grand Seiko and other luxury brands we have developed, as well as to communicate the richness and depth of Japanese culture from multiple perspectives.
Movie Project
The movie, which is scheduled for release this October, defines Time as the connection between Seiko and Japanese culture, and reveals the cultural aspects of Time. The film features appearances by top creators of Japanese culture, including contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, composer・Commissioner of Agency for Cultural Affairs Shunichi Tokura, world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, and singer MISIA (*see profiles below), and explores how Time influences their creations and philosophies. They will also share their own personal thoughts on Time.
Trailer Summary
Title: THE GIFT OF TIME
Cast: Shunichi Tokura (composer, Commissioner of Agency for Cultural Affairs); Kengo Kuma (architect); and MISIA (singer)
Navigator: Shinji Hattori (Seiko Group Chairman, CEO, and CCO)
Film length: 88 seconds
The Reopening of the Basement Floor of Wako Flagship Store
We are pleased to announce that the basement floor of the Wako Flagship Store in SEIKO HOUSE, a well-known landmark in the Ginza district, reopened on July 20 after the completion of renovation work. The remodeled space is designed to symbolize the ongoing project.
The space on the basement floor was designed by the New Material Research Laboratory, an architectural firm founded and led by Hiroshi Sugimoto and Tomoyuki Sakakida.
The defining concept for this space, and which is placed in its center, is the “Stage and Corridor,” a rotating fixture that resembles the long and short hands of a clock, the original business of Wako. The space will be used to express and exchange our culture, which is rich in both tradition and innovation. We will be presenting products and experiences that are based on the history of Wako since its inception as well as traditional facets and customs of Japan that express the richness of its culture. The renewal work was intended to create a platform for Wako, which is one of the most renowned brands in Japan.
Creator Profiles
Shunichi Tokura
Born in Tokyo, Tokura spent his elementary and high school years in Germany, where he gained a basic musical education. He debuted as a composer while attending Gakushuin University in Tokyo. His numerous honors include the Japan Record Awards Best Composer Award, the Japan Music Award, and other prestigious accolades. Tokura has released over 1,100 hit songs to date, while accounting for sales of more than 60 million records. He was named Japan Commissioner for Cultural Affairs in 2021 (and continues to serve in that post).
Kengo Kuma
Kengo Kuma was born in 1954. He established his architectural firm, Kengo Kuma & Associates, in 1990. He is currently a University Professor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo following teaching assignments at both Keio University and the U. of Tokyo. KKA projects are currently underway in more than 50 countries. Kengo Kuma envisions architecture that opens up new relationships between Nature, technology, and human beings.
His major publications include Zen Shigoto (Zen Work, from Kengo Kuma – Complete Works, Daiwa Shobo publishers), Ten Sen Men (“point, line, plane,” Iwanami Shoten), Makeru Kenchiku (Architecture of Defeat, Iwanami Shoten), Shizen na Kenchiku (Natural Architecture, Iwanami Shinsho), Chiisana Kenchiku (Small Architecture, Iwanami Shinsho) and many others.
MISIA
She debuted in 1998 and has gone on to become a nationally prominent singer with many hit songs, including “Everything” and “Ainokatachi (The Shape of Love).”
She also sang the Japanese national anthem “Kimigayo” solo at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
She has been engaging in charity work for a long time for children throughout Japan and educational support for children in Africa, and she has successively assumed the role of ambassador for international conferences, including the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
In 2023, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her debut, she held a large-scale nationwide tour.
In 2024, her song "Fleurs de la passion" was selected as the athlete support song for the Nippon TV network, and she performed at “PEACEFUL PARK,” a live charity event to support reconstruction in Taiwan and Noto in Japan.
In September, she is scheduled to appear at the Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN 2024 and also host MISIA SOUL JAZZ 2024.
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Artist. Born in Tokyo in 1948. Sugimoto moved to the United States in 1970 and started his career with photography in New York in 1974. A multidisciplinary artist, he works in photography, sculpture, installation, performing arts, architecture, gardening and gastronomy. His art bridges Eastern and Western approaches while examining the nature of time, perception, and the origins of consciousness. In 2008 he established the architecture firm the New Material Research Laboratory with the architect Tomoyuki Sakakida, and in 2009 he founded the Odawara Art Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization to promote traditional Japanese performing arts and culture. Sugimoto is the recipient of the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography in 2001. He was awarded the 21st Praemium Imperiale in 2009, the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2010, the Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, conferred by the French government in 2013, and the Isamu Noguchi Award in 2014. In 2017 he was honored as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government. He was elected as a member of Japan Art Academy in 2023.
Press Contact:
Seiko Group Corporation
Public Relations Department
prdeptj@seiko.co.jp
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