• K, Design Development


• ●Hobby: Fly fishing
  The wind blowing through the ravine, the sound of rustling trees and the murmur of the flowing river, the coolness of the clear water, the scent of the forest, and playing hide and seek with beautiful and intelligent freshwater fish. Being in nature makes me feel refreshed both inside and out.


• ●Favourite food: Udon noodles
  I’m originally from Kagawa prefecture which is famous for its udon. I obviously love the soba noodles in Shinshu, too. I look forward to the arrival of the new soba season when we can enjoy noodles made from newly harvested buckwheat.

Tell us the name of your favourite watch to wear.

It would be the Orient Star Mechanical Moon Phase (model RE-AM0001S *no longer in production) which I bought in 2018. This is a model that was created as a result of the company’s collective effort to develop an iconic Orient Star model, and I was also involved in the design process. It took almost two years to develop because of the sheer level of attention to detail. Back then, there was some resistance in the company towards putting so much effort into this one watch, so I was overjoyed when we ended up receiving such positive feedback from customers.

Which parts of the watch are you particularly attracted to?

Various elements of the watch complement one another in a way that’s both visually and functionally harmonious, such as the roman indices, power reserve, semi-skeleton, moon phase, and date display. Also, the design is classical but with characteristics that are unique to Orient Star. The stamped OS mark on the dial in particular adds to the rich expression of the surface.

Is there a special way in which you enjoy the watch?

I wear it almost daily and change the strap depending on the season (*such as replacing the leather strap with a mesh one in the summer). The mechanical moon phase display isn’t just a function for displaying the time – it’s far more appealing than that. When there’s a full moon, it has become my habit to take a photo of the watch on my wrist with the moon in the background [laughs]. It’s surprisingly hard to take a good photo! Many people upload similar photos on social media, so you can check them out for yourself.

Which model would you like to buy next?

I would love to buy the M34 F8 Skeleton Hand Winding (model RE-AZ0104L), which is another model I helped develop. The team made countless prototypes before we finally arrived at a design that moved away from the notion that skeleton watches had to be decorative and classical. We explored to the fullest extent how we could express a sense of depth, like in deep space.

What points do you consider when choosing a watch?

Functionality is a must, but I also focus on the overall balance and wearability - how it feels on the wrist - more than anything.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Orient Star’s appeal lies in our DNA of thinking outside the box and embracing challenges, as well as our spirit of craftsmanship. There will be many more Orient Star models with unique colours and designs to come!

● Editor’s note

The portrait for this interview was shot at Tateishi Park. Overlooking Lake Suwa and the city of Suwa, the location is famous for appearing in anime and drama scenes. K particularly recommends Narai-juku, a spot offering spectacular views of the Nakasendo post town, as well as the Shinshu Sky Park at Shinshu Matsumoto Airport, which is located at the highest elevation of any commercial airport in Japan. The path along the park’s periphery spans 10 km, which according to K is perfect for a walk.