Way Of The Shokunin

Speaking with Seiko Corp. Senior Executive VP Yoshikatsu Kawada at the opening of Singapore's flagship boutique, Augustman marvels at the work of Japanese artisans

- JONATHAN HO 

IN JAPAN, AN ARTISAN IS CALLED SHOKUNIN (職人). Artist Tasio Orate explains it best: “The Japanese apprentice is taught that shokunin means not only having technical skills, but also implies an attitude and social consciousness. The shokunin has a social obligation to work his/her best for the general welfare of the people. This obligation is both spiritual and material, in that no matter what it is, the shokunin’s responsibility is to fulfil the requirement.”

Indeed, as Grand Seiko celebrates the opening of its first boutique in Singapore with a resounding tribute to its Japanese roots, expanding its presence in the AsiaPacific region and showcasing the brand’s signature design philosophy for understated elegance and exacting refinement – what newcomers to the brand actually discover is a “secret cult” of aficionados drawn to its undeniable value when it was only available as Japanese Domestic Models (JDM).

That said, Grand Seiko has “grown up” in recent years and during a brief conversation at lunch with Akio Naito, President of Grand Seiko (whom we spoke to last year), he intimated that the eventual plan was to move Grand Seiko into a positioning to rival Rolex while moving King Seiko into a segment currently occupied by Tudor; setting the context for the brand’s plans for its global introduction.

Speaking with Senior Executive VP Yoshikatsu Kawada, we gained a deeper understanding of what makes a Grand Seiko masterpiece and a true emblem for nature’s beauty as interpreted by human hands.

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