MINASE Unveils Pinnacle Pocket Watch Collection Fusing Japanese Sword Steel 'Tamahagane' and Wajima Lacquerware
Watch brand MINASE has announced its pinnacle collection of pocket watches, fusing 'Tamahagane,' the material of Japanese swords, with the traditional craft of 'Wajima-nuri.' This collection, expressing the Japanese spirit, will be unveiled for the first time in Switzerland.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (17h 39m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 01:18 (491h 39m after Collected)
Kyowa Seikou Co., Ltd. (hereinafter KYOWA, Head Office: 34-1 Mitsumori, Hayashizaki, Ugomachi, Ogachi-gun, Akita Prefecture, CEO: Go Suzuki), the manufacturer and seller of the watch brand MINASE, will announce in April 2026 its pinnacle collection, the pocket watches "Asagimadara" and "Houou" (Phoenix), created in collaboration with Wajima-nuri Maki-e, a traditional Japanese craft of world renown, and a swordsmith who inherits the history of Japanese swords.
Furthermore, during the "WATCHES AND WONDERS 2026" event held in Geneva, Switzerland from April 14, 2026, this collection will be unveiled for the first time in Suite 127 on the first floor of the Beau-Rivage Genève.
Timeless Japanology
No matter which country you go to, it's becoming harder to feel the uniqueness of a place, perhaps due to the homogenization of technology. What can only be made in Japan should be something that awakens the sensibilities passed down through generations of Japanese people. The space connecting a building and its garden, the beauty of decay, the spirituality that 'God is in the details.' How can we create something that expresses the intelligence and sensibility that Japanese people can instantly share without words? With such thoughts, we have pursued modeling and honed the art of Sallaz polishing. Furthermore, to avoid superficially exploiting the cultural value of traditional crafts, we value collaborative work through dialogue with master craftsmen who inherit a thousand-year lineage. Has the MINASE collection become an entity that speaks to your heart of the pride, passion, and breath of the Japanese people, passed down through time? We would be delighted if you could feel the babbling of the Minase River, which flows through the deep mountain valleys of Akita where the MINASE factory is located. (Go Suzuki, CEO)
Why did we create a pocket watch?
As the most MINASE-like expression of Japanese craftsmanship, the pocket watch came to mind. A 12-sided form created to be "admired" in the hand—the fine work of Maki-e, the patina of a Japanese sword, the sharp edges of Sallaz polishing.