Innovation and Tradition Define Tokyo Around the World

Japanese aesthetic sense and craftsmanship.
The aesthetics of tradition and innovation continue to mark the passage of time around the world today.

Masterpiece architecture that symbolizes the expertise and aesthetic sense of Japan.
Emotional Tokyo cityscapes project peoples’ lives and a rich range of expressions.

Minimalism and functional beauty. Emotion and elegance.
Marking Tokyo time from the days of old into the future.

International photographer Josh Olins, whose work resonates with the aesthetics of Grand Seiko, captures images of modern Tokyo.

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The SLGC001 is a mechanical chronograph crafted for excellent precision.
The watch’s functional excellence echoes the precision of the Metropolitan Expressway and city waterways, which have supported Tokyo over the years.
These sophisticated transport networks, recognized as symbols of Japanese technical prowess, unveil a rich range of expressions with the passage of time.

LOCATION

Metropolitan Expressway+Canal

In the eyes of people from all around the world, the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway is one of the sights that most closely reflects the distinctive character of Tokyo. During the Edo period, when boats served as the principal means of transportation, canals reflected the rise of prosperity as they expanded throughout the city with the focus on Edo Castle. Even as the nation moved into the more modern Meiji period, such canals remained in service on the Kanda and Nihonbashi Rivers. Some 90 years later, prompted by the selection of Tokyo to host the 1964 Olympics and the need to ease congestion, the construction of a metropolitan expressway emerged as a pressing issue. This drew attention to the canals that had flowed through the city center since the Edo period. Rapidly, column bases were erected along them for an expressway. In this way, modern roads came to completely cover the waterways.
Ranking as one such representative spot is Nihonbashi Bridge and the expressway winding its way above the Nihonbashi River that flows below that bridge. Surprisingly, despite being crossed by 24 bridges of various sizes, the Nihonbashi River has maintained a high level of water quality and transparency, so that the bottom two meters below is clearly visible. Likewise, various types of birds thrive there – herons and hooded gulls in the summer, and ducks and other species in the winter. The remaining stone walls along the riverbanks, meanwhile, are carved with clan patterns crafted by Edo period stonemasons, underscoring the flow of history from that period to the present day.

Retaining images of old Edo as well as the Metropolitan Expressway engineered to reflect its contours, different times have shaped the Nihonbashi River. The Evolution 9 Collection SLGC001 is a mechanical chronograph honed for the highest precision. The enduring appeal of its function and beauty flow from time-honored craftsmanship paired with modern technology. The Metropolitan Expressway, which also combines the modern with the traditional, has itself become a precious piece of Tokyo heritage that should be preserved.

Text by Taka Kawachi

SLGC001

Evolution 9 Collection

The first Grand Seiko mechanical chronograph. Featuring the Caliber 9SC5 movement symbolizing the next generation of Grand Seiko, this timepiece has a power reserve of 72 hours, making it the 10-beat mechanical chronograph with the longest power reserve in the world. The light and strong high-intensity titanium case and bracelet, along with the ceramic bezel, combine to generate exquisite shadows. This combines with the Mt. Iwate pattern dial to evoke the surface of the rugged mountain as viewed from the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, creating an expression of lush light.

The first Grand Seiko mechanical chronograph. Featuring the Caliber 9SC5 movement symbolizing the next generation of Grand Seiko, this timepiece has a power reserve of 72 hours, making it the 10-beat mechanical chronograph with the longest power reserve in the world. The light and strong high-intensity titanium case and bracelet, along with the ceramic bezel, combine to generate exquisite shadows. This combines with the Mt. Iwate pattern dial to evoke the surface of the rugged mountain as viewed from the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, creating an expression of lush light.

Photographer

Josh Olins
Born in London, England, and currently based in New York, Olins excels in photography primarily seen in fashion ads and magazines. Famed for depictions rich in both strength and elegance, he enjoys a steady stream of offers from renowned magazines including VOGUE and many clients such as Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, and Jil Sander.In the Japan Issue of Holiday Magazine, published in 2015, he earned keen attention for the inclusion of his Japan fashion editorial shoot extending throughout the entire issue.

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