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 SLGH005 depicts a mystical natural setting in the image of a thick white birch forest.
This simple design reflects the elegant aesthetic sense, beauty, and reservedness that are unique to Japan.
Ginza, the celebrated Tokyo neighborhood rich in refined luxury, inspires a desire to wear this fine watch while passing the time.
LOCATION
GINZA
SEIKO HOUSE
The Genuine Culture of Ginza + SEIKO HOUSE
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Ginza has a distinguished history even among the many famed districts of Tokyo. Indeed, the neighborhood’s story traces back over 400 years. With the renaming of Edo (old Tokyo) in 1869 (the second year of the Meiji era), the name “Ginza” officially came to be. This coincided with the launching of a plan to construct a truly fireproof city in the Western tradition. With that, the boulevard currently known as “Chuo-dori” was paved with bricks along a stretch of seven kilometers. Rows of brick-built stores also sprang up along both sides of the thoroughfare. With the subsequent creation of a covered arcade on one side, visitors could leisurely stroll without opening their umbrellas on rainy days. This prompted an even greater surge of happy window shoppers to be drawn to the district regardless of the weather. It was around this time that the phrase ginbura (“strolling on the Ginza”) was coined as a trendy term. Tokyo’s “Chuo Ward” is a virtual treasure trove of modern architecture. More specifically, from the Meiji to the Taisho eras of Japanese history (1868-1926), a series of exquisite buildings, most destined to remain in the pages of architectural history, were erected in Nihonbashi, Ginza, and other chic districts.
Located at the Ginza 4-Chome intersection, an address famed as Japan’s most fashionable, SEIKO HOUSE is a true landmark of Ginza. The current version of the building, noted for its elegantly curved facade, is the second-generation structure. It was completed in June of 1932 as the “Hattori Watch Shop Building. ”Featuring seven aboveground floors and two basement levels, it embodies the Neo-Renaissance style. This design was the brainchild of Jin Watanabe, an architect also renowned for his work on the Tokyo National Museum. Natural stone was used for the outside walls as a countermeasure for earthquakes and fires. The building emerged as a beautiful structure featuring arabesque patterns and elegant decorative reliefs.
Towering above the roof is a clock tower that shines as an essential symbol of Ginza. Its four prominent dials can be read from most anywhere in the vicinity. On June 10, 2022, this clock tower celebrated the 90th anniversary of its completion. Recognized as the hallowed home of Seiko, the building is strategically positioned as a base for the transmission of information concerning the Seiko brand.
The dial of the Evolution 9 Collection SLGH005, rooted in a concept derived from the image of a white birch forest on the Hiraniwa Plateau in Iwate Prefecture, incorporates a bold pressed pattern and delicate coloring. The result is a texture created in the image of those majestic white birch trees, with a design stimulating a profound sense of sophistication. This elegant creation’s dignity exudes the sophistication of Ginza, a place where beauty endures through the ages.
Text by Taka Kawachi
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SLGH005
Evolution 9 Collection
Iwate Prefecture, the location of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, home to all Grand Seiko mechanical watches, ranks as one of Japan’s premier white birch forest regions. Emanating from the mystical landscape, rows of towering white birch bathed in clear highland air rouse sensations of the inspiring beauty and strength of nature. In this creation, the magnificent white birch forest is elegantly expressed in a dial featuring a dynamic pressed pattern and delicate coloring.
Iwate Prefecture, the location of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, home to all Grand Seiko mechanical watches, ranks as one of Japan’s premier white birch forest regions. Emanating from the mystical landscape, rows of towering white birch bathed in clear highland air rouse sensations of the inspiring beauty and strength of nature. In this creation, the magnificent white birch forest is elegantly expressed in a dial featuring a dynamic pressed pattern and delicate coloring.
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Photographer
Josh Olins
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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.