SEIKO PRESAGE Seeking the Origins of Presage Craftsmanship in Arita

Seiko Presage brings time-honoured craftsmanship and a uniquely Japanese aesthetic to the world. Join us on a journey to Arita – Japan’s porcelain heartland – to explore the land, culture, and artisanal tradition behind this one-of-a-kind timepiece.

Seiko Presage
Craftsmanship Series
Arita Porcelain Dial

Uniquely Japanese –
Transcending time and place

Featuring an exquisite Arita porcelain dial envisioned and realised by a master craftsman in collaboration with the precision manufacturing of Seiko’s engineers, this meticulously crafted watch represents a fusion of the timeless and the modern; tradition and innovation; form and function. Strikingly dynamic and lustrous yet tempered with a gentle refinement, it embodies Japanese sensitivity and sensibility.

Over four centuries of history
live on today

Located in Saga Prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, Arita was the site where Japan’s first porcelain was fired in the early 17th century, and this idyllic mountain town blessed by nature has remained firmly at the forefront of porcelain crafting ever since.

Particularly well-received by European aristocrats in the mid-17^th-to-18^th centuries, Arita ware went on to inspire and influence other ceramic traditions around the world, including the Meissen porcelain of Germany.

Over four hundred years later, Arita remains a town that lives and breathes porcelain, with many of its residents carrying on their ancestors’ traditions to this day.

Walk the streets today, and marvel at the charming streetscapes – lined with the meticulously-preserved buildings where porcelain makers and merchants would entertain their guests. This area has been designated a Historical Architectural Preservation District, with buildings dating back as early as the late Edo period (mid-19^th century).

Walk the streets today, and marvel at the charming streetscapes – lined with the meticulously-preserved buildings where porcelain makers and merchants would entertain their guests. This area has been designated a Historical Architectural Preservation District, with buildings dating back as early as the late Edo period (mid-19^th century).

Travel back in time as you slip into back alleys lined with distinctive tonbai walls fashioned from old firebricks once used as kiln parts. In this way, the people of Arita have been realising their own vision of “sustainability” long before the term came into vogue. The walls also served to keep invaluable crafting techniques safe from the eyes of those looking to steal these secrets.

Look upwards to the sky and see countless chimneys – each bearing the name of one of Arita’s traditional kilns, many dating back centuries – as well as the mountains that surround the area on all sides, serving to prevent precious and priceless techniques from finding their way to other regions.

Through the verdant, primeval forests of Mount Kurokami run pristine rivers and waterfalls that nourish the earth, giving life to an impressive array of flora and fauna, and provide the ideal environment – physically, spiritually, and culturally – for the creation of Japan’s finest porcelain.

The pure water that flows down from Mount Kurokami is also put masterfully to use at local distilleries, which use Saga-grown two-rowed barley to produce sublime shochu – one of Japan’s signature alcoholic beverages and a specialty of the Kyushu region.

Aritadori (Arita chicken) – one of Japan’s premiere local poultry brands – makes for mouthwatering bites of delicious karaage-style fried chicken. Packed with juices and umami and freshly fried to crispy golden perfection, it’s no wonder tourists and locals alike line up early for a bite.

Award-winning Imari beef stars in this savory, melt-in-the-mouth grilled curry with cheese, a popular local dish.

A meal in Arita promises to be a veritable work of art – a feast for the eyes and mouth alike. The Arita Yaki Gozen lunch plate seen here features local ingredients (such as Arita godofu, a delightfully chewy tofu served with savory miso sauce) fashioned into myriad creative, tasteful dishes served on a breathtaking array of Arita ware vessels. Each plate and bowl is carefully curated to complement the edible delights that rest upon it.

Commemorating Arita’s connection
with the world

To fully take in all Japan’s porcelain heartland has to offer, stay at Arita Huis. This modern auberge that opened on the occasion of the 400^th anniversary of Arita porcelain to honor the area’s ties with the Netherlands, the only Western country to maintain formal trade relations with Japan in the Edo period when the nation was still closed to much of the world. You'll find strikingly designed guest rooms offering modern amenities, a restaurant serving innovative cuisine fashioned from local ingredients, and exhibitions of Arita ware.

Innovation is preservation

Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, Master Craftsman

Hiroyuki Hashiguchi of Arita’s Shingama Kiln – the master behind the Arita Porcelain Dial – grew up as the son of parents who both worked with porcelain.

Acutely aware that his creations are both art and commodity, Mr. Hashiguchi channels the legacy and technique of his forebears, filtering them through his own sensitivities to create works unmistakably from Arita that transcend time and place.

“I believe that we must challenge ourselves to innovate precisely because that is what will allow us to pass our traditions on to posterity,” he says. “I feel a kinship with Seiko in this sense.”

The craftsman explained the unique challenges of the process. “It isn’t easy to see, but this dial – with varying thickness and thinness in a single shape – is incredibly hard to achieve with traditional methods. We took the thinness to its physical extreme.” He also spoke of his commitment to sustainable craftsmanship. “To create a single work of Arita porcelain, there is a need to discard certain parts. By repurposing these to make aroma diffusers, we ensure that no precious soil goes to waste.”

One can see the master’s philosophy expressed in every facet of the watch he and Seiko have created together.

Hiroyuki Hashiguchi of Arita’s Shingama Kiln – the master behind the Arita Porcelain Dial – grew up as the son of parents who both worked with porcelain.

One can see the master’s philosophy expressed in every facet of the watch he and Seiko have created together.

All items sold under Shingama’s flagship “Seika Takumi” line are hand-painted by Mr. Hashiguchi himself, meaning that each piece is every bit as much a work of art as it is a functional object.
Shingama Kiln is home to a traditional noborigama, or “climbing” kiln. Constructed on hills to employ gravity-powered fuel gas convection which ensures high temperatures, the blazing kiln – which requires overnight preparation – is truly a sight to behold.

At Shingama, a venerable kiln in Arita, visitors can experience a part of the creation process for themselves under the watchful eye and sensitive guiding hand of Master Craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi and his fellow artisans.

Honoring the past,
looking toward the future

The new Presage Arita Porcelain Dial features a curved face of the purest white accented with indexes and hands in blue. Gently rising and falling terrain is expressed within a thickness of a mere 1mm, the fruit of taking on – and succeeding – in a challenge to achieve the physical limits of thinness. A deep luster and soft shading give this watch its singularly elegant appearance.

Did you enjoy our trip to Arita? If it gave you deeper insight into the rich cultural heritage and natural environment that lives and breathes within the Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Dial, nothing would make us happier. Our journey to explore the aesthetics of Seiko Presage will continue, and we would be honored if you could join us again.