1

Birth and Early Years “I’ll Do it! I’ll Run a Clock Shop!”

Kintaro Hattori, the founder of Seiko, was born in Ginza in 1860. Seeing Japan’s rapid modernization, his ambition was to become a timepiece dealer. A Map of Ginza from the Edo period (1603-1867) and prints showing the new world of the Meiji era (1868-1912) help take us back to the atmosphere that young Kintaro grew up in.

2

Seiko's First Eight-Day Wall Clock

Seikosha’s first-ever product. In 1892, Kintaro established Seikosha in what is now Sumida Ward to manufacture clocks for his shop. With only about a dozen employees, this small workshop succeeded in creating wall clocks just two months after it started operations.

3

Japan's First Wristwatch, Laurel and Disassembled Parts

Japan’s first wristwatch, launched in 1913. Disassembled parts can be seen in the drawer. The Laurel was difficult to manufacture, as it was about a fifth the size of normal watches. Only about 30 to 50 could be produced each day.

Recommended Points

You would be surprised to see and the tiny size of the parts and their precision of disassembled sample. Incredibly, it was made without drawings.

4

The Birth of the Second Clock Tower of K. Hattori & Co., Ltd.

The Wako Main Building stands overlooking the Ginza 4-chome crossing. Completed in 1932, this was the second clock tower created by K. Hattori Co. This section introduces the little-known tale of how it become the symbol of Ginza, along with meterials from its construction.

Recommended Points

Look up at the ceiling in the middle of the floor and check out the store logo "H" of K. Hattori Co.! It uses the same pattern as the relief on the outside walls of Wako.

1

Seikosha Railway Watch

Foreign-made railway watches were used for many years in Japan after the 1868 Meiji Restoration, but in 1929, the Ministry of Railways approved the Seikosha as the first Japanese-made railway watch.

2

Sportsmatic 5

Seiko’s unique functions and design made this self-winding men’s watch popular. Launched in 1963, it was a major hit among young people. It was the first watch to win a Good Design Award, in 1964.

Recommended Points

Here you can see products developed from the Sportsmatic 5. Perhaps you can find a watch you wore back in the day?

3

Trip-mate

Back in the 1960s, many hotel rooms did not have clocks inside, so collapsible portable travel clocks like this were produced and became a best-seller as the must-have for travelling.

4

TV Watch

The world’s first watch with a television launched in 1982. With a 1.2 inch screen, this revolutionary watch could receive all Japanese TV broadcasts as well as FM radio.

Recommended Points

The TV Watch which attracted a lot of attention was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s smallest television in 1984.

1

Touch Pad and Starting Block of Swimming Time System

The touch panel was designed to ignore water pressure and splashes, only responding to swimmers’ touches. The starting block contained a sensor to measure relay changes, accurately recording the momentary difference in start signals between one swimmer and the next.

Recommended Points

This is the actual starting block used by Kyoko Iwasaki when she won Gold at the international sports games that took place in 1992.

2

Stopwatches for Each Sport

Some of the stopwatches that played a key role in the international sports games that took place in Tokyo in 1964. Their designs with high visibility matched the various event times and rules of the different sports, helping the athletes perform their best.

Recommended Points

Stopwatches for each sport are easy to identify using pictograms unique to the Seiko Museum Ginza.

3

Seiko Matic Calendar Diver's Watch

This is Japan’s first diver’s watch, released in 1965. These were used by the 1966 Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. This impressive timepiece gave rise to many Seiko Diver’s Watches beloved by professional divers and adventurers.