{"id":6750,"date":"2024-09-26T09:44:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T00:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/?p=6750"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:33:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T09:33:32","slug":"explore002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/minase-explore\/explore002.html","title":{"rendered":"#2. MADE IN YUZAWA"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Many of Japan\u2019s traditional craftworks arose in the country\u2019s inland basins. These areas, surrounded by mountains, produced unique local cultures. Especially in the Tohoku region where there is heavy snowfall in the basins during winter, cottage industries involving crafting items at home flourished in the communities, as the weather made farming outside impossible. The locals say that the winter weather, which hinders normal daily living unless the snow is constantly removed, has instilled a sense of patience and determination that allows them to focus meticulously on their crafts. The Yokote Basin in Yuzawa, Akita has nurtured diverse handicrafts over the years.
When one closely observes the production processes involved in MINASE\u2019s watchmaking, such as metal machining and Sallaz polishing, one cannot help but feel the radiant energy of those artisans who are pushing the limits of perseverance to produce these timepieces of beauty. When I heard of an upcoming collaborative project between MINASE, which prides itself on \u201cMADE IN YUZAWA,\u201d and Kawatsura lacquerware, another local traditional handicraft that has been refined and passed down through the generations in the Yokote Basin since the 11th century, I decided to travel to the atelier of Mr. Hiroki Settsu for a tour.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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He explained that the collaborative project would involve applying a special decorative technique known as Kawatsura raden (insertion of nacre into lacquerware) to the dials of MINASE watches. Apparently, lacquer can be applied to the metallic dials on watches as well as to woodenware such as bowls and trays. Mr. Settsu\u2019s work involves putting lacquer on substrates and then laying pieces of natural shell (nacre) in specific patterns. He describes the craft as a sort of illusion involving aligning the direction of the light gradation ranging from pink to green as reflected on the shell pieces, giving rise to an intricate brilliance that is distinctly different from typical mother-of-pearl watch dials. He revealed that the watch model would be called Niji-no-kumo (rainbow cloud), as the timepiece is inspired by the appearance of iridescent clouds bathed in rainbow colors. While the works of art on display at museums cannot be touched, this artistic watch can be worn on the wrist and owned by individuals. Living life every day with such art is a luxury of the highest order.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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This \u201crainbow cloud\u201d watch is a masterpiece of mystical brilliance, born of the marriage between two MADE-IN-YUZAWA handicrafts: MINASE\u2019s watchmaking, which has elevated its watch cases to the status of engineered art, and Mr. Settsu\u2019s handiwork, which is grounded in a centuries-old traditional craft. The desire to gaze at beauty while losing track of time is surely a universal sentiment. I gain pleasure from imagining how people around the world are astonished by the sublime beauty of Japanese craftmanship. There is another traditional \u201cMADE IN YUZAWA\u201d craft, which is Inaniwa udon. This local noodle specialty, said to have existed for 350 years, is considered one of the best brands of udon, characterized by its translucent and glossy appearance, pleasantly chewy texture, and straight, uniformly thick noodles. One of the perks of visiting MINASE is savoring this famous delicious udon where it originated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThis is an in-depth travelogue of Mr. K. Kawakami who specializes in writing reports on various factories.\nHe takes a look at the fundamental value of MINASE, with incisive insight and observation refined over the years, as a seasoned expert on the watch industry.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWriter : K. Kawakami<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    K. Kawakami is a professional writer specializing in exploring diverse factories, reporting on their unique manufacturing practices in Japan and around the world. He travels to the factories of many manufacturers that operate on the principle of perfection, including watches, electrical appliances, shoes, fashion items, buildings, foods, confections, and traditional crafts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Many of Japan\u2019s traditional craftworks arose in the country\u2019s inland basins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6751,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-fullwidth.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6750","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-minase-explore"},"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6750"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10883,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6750\/revisions\/10883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minase-watches.com\/world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}